Questions & Answers about לפני שהאורחים באים, אני רוצה להכין להם קפה.
What does לפני ש־ mean here, and why is there a ש attached to לפני?
לפני means before.
When Hebrew wants to say before [something happens], it often uses לפני ש־, literally before that...
So:
- לפני = before
- ש = that / when introducing a clause
In this sentence:
- לפני שהאורחים באים = before the guests come / before the guests are coming
The ש connects לפני to the full clause האורחים באים.
Why is it שהאורחים and not just אורחים?
Because האורחים means the guests, not just guests.
Breakdown:
- אורחים = guests
- האורחים = the guests
The ה־ is the Hebrew definite article, like the in English.
Since the sentence is talking about specific guests, Hebrew uses האורחים.
Also, after ש־, the ה stays:
- ש + האורחים → שהאורחים
That is completely normal in Hebrew spelling.
Why does Hebrew use here? Isn't that present tense, even though the guests haven't come yet?