Avant, elle était mariée, mais maintenant elle est séparée de son mari.

to be

Breakdown of Avant, elle était mariée, mais maintenant elle est séparée de son mari.

• elle: she
• avant: before
• maintenant: now

Questions & Answers about Avant, elle était mariée, mais maintenant elle est séparée de son mari.

Why is it Avant, at the start with a comma, and not something like Avant ça or Avant cela?

Avant on its own often means “before / previously / in the past” in a very general, vague way. It doesn’t need to name a specific event.

• Avant, elle était mariée.
  = Before / In the past, she was married.

It’s similar to English sentences like:

• “Before, she was married.”
• “Back then, she was married.”

You could say Avant ça or Avant cela, but that usually refers more clearly back to a specific previously mentioned event:

• Avant ça, elle était mariée.
  = “Before that, she was married.”

In the given sentence, Avant, by itself just sets a general “earlier time” contrast with maintenant (“now”), so the comma after Avant is natural: it’s like a little introductory time phrase.

Why is it elle était mariée (imperfect) and not elle a été mariée (passé composé)?