Před odpovědí se chceme poradit.

to want

Breakdown of Před odpovědí se chceme poradit.

• odpověď: the answer
• před: before
• poradit se: to consult one another

Questions & Answers about Před odpovědí se chceme poradit.

Why is there no separate word for we in this sentence?

Because Czech often leaves subject pronouns out when the verb ending already shows the person.

Here, chceme means we want:

• chci = I want
• chceš = you want
• chce = he/she/it wants
• chceme = we want

So we is built into chceme. You could add my for emphasis, but it is not necessary.

What does před mean here, and what case does it use?

Here před means before in a time sense.

When před is used like this, it takes the instrumental case:

• před odpovědí = before the answer / before answering

This is different from English, where we often use a clause or a gerund:

• before answering
• before we answer

Czech can express that idea with a noun phrase.

Why is it odpovědí and not odpověď?

Because after před in this meaning, the noun must be in the instrumental singular.

The base form is:

• odpověď = answer

Its instrumental singular is:

• odpovědí

So:

• před odpovědí = before the answer / before answering

This ending is normal for many feminine nouns of this type.