Learn Hardcore French: Je consulte le calendrier avant d’accepter un rendez-vous. - I check the calendar before accepting an appointment.

Consulter means “to consult” a source for information (a calendar, dictionary, doctor). It suggests a purposeful, slightly formal check.
Regarder is simply “to look at,” more neutral and visual.
Vérifier is “to check, to verify” that something is correct or compatible. Natural alternatives:
Je consulte mon agenda (very common for “I check my planner/schedule”).
Je vérifie mon agenda (I check/confirm my availability).
Je regarde le calendrier (I take a look at the calendar).

Why is it le calendrier and not mon calendrier or l’agenda?

Le calendrier = the calendar (often a wall/desk/month-view calendar). With the definite article, it can also refer to a shared/company calendar.
Mon agenda = my personal planner/schedule (very idiomatic for availability).
Mon calendrier = my calendar (fine if you mean your personal calendar app or wall calendar). If you mean your personal availability, mon agenda is often the most natural choice.

Why is it avant de + verb and not just avant?

Use avant de + infinitive before a verb: avant d’accepter.
Use avant + noun/time expression before a noun: avant le dîner, avant la réunion, avant midi.

When would I use avant que instead, and what tense follows it?

Use avant que + subjunctive when the subject changes:

Je consulterai le calendrier avant que mon collègue n’accepte le rendez-vous. The optional “ne explétif” (here before accepte) is stylistic; many speakers omit it in conversation. With the same subject, stick to avant de + infinitive.

What’s the apostrophe in d’accepter?

It’s elision: de becomes d’ before a vowel sound or mute h. So:

avant d’accepter, avant d’aller, avant d’habiter (mute h) But not before an aspirated h: avant de harceler (no elision if the h is aspirated).

Why is it accepter un rendez-vous and not accepter de?

Accepter + direct object: accepter un rendez-vous (accept an appointment).
Accepter de + infinitif: agree to do something, e.g., accepter de venir (agree to come).

Is rendez-vous always romantic?

No. Un rendez-vous is any “appointment/meeting,” professional or personal. Romantic “date” in colloquial speech is un rencard. You’ll also see the abbreviation RDV in messages.

What’s the gender and plural of rendez-vous?

Gender: masculine → un rendez-vous, le rendez-vous.
Plural: invariable in spelling → des rendez-vous (no extra s to add).

How would I replace the object with pronouns?

If it’s a specific appointment already mentioned: avant de l’accepter (the l’ = le for rendez-vous).
If you mean “one (of them)” in general: avant d’en accepter un.

Can I move the avant de phrase to the front?

Yes: Avant d’accepter un rendez-vous, je consulte le calendrier. Same meaning, slightly more emphatic on the condition.

Any pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?

Approximate IPA: [ʒə kɔ̃.sylt lə ka.lɑ̃.dʁi.je a.vɑ̃ dak.sɛp.te œ̃ ʁɑ̃.de.vu]

consulte: pronounce the t because of the final e → [sylt].
calendrier: hear [dʁi.je] at the end.
accepter: cc before e = [ks] → [ak.sɛp.te].
rendez-vous: [ʁɑ̃.de.vu]; the z is silent unless there’s liaison (e.g., rendez-vous à → [vu.za]). No liaison after avant here because the next sound is [d], a consonant: avant d’….

Why the article un before rendez-vous?

It’s an unspecified, non-identified appointment. If you meant a specific one already known in context, you’d use le rendez-vous or a pronoun: Je consulte le calendrier avant de l’accepter.

Could I say planning or emploi du temps instead of calendrier/agenda?

Mon agenda: your personal planner/schedule (most idiomatic for availability).
Mon emploi du temps: timetable (often fixed, like a class schedule).
Le planning: (borrowed) a work rota/schedule, often shared or for staff.
Le calendrier: month-view calendar (wall/desk/app). Choose based on what you’re checking.

How do I make it negative or express “before not accepting”?

Negate the main verb: Je ne consulte pas le calendrier avant d’accepter…
To say “before not accepting,” French usually rephrases: avant de refuser rather than avant de ne pas accepter (the latter is grammatically possible but stylistically clunky).

Is the tense here habitual? Can I use the future?

Yes, je consulte is present for a habitual action. You can use the future for a specific future situation:

Je consulterai le calendrier avant d’accepter un rendez-vous.

Any small style notes?

In French, je is not capitalized mid-sentence.
Consulter is a bit more formal than regarder; for everyday speech about your availability, Je vérifie/je consulte mon agenda is very natural.