Breakdown of ryokoukeikaku wo kimeru mae ni, hoteru wo yoyakusimasu.
をwo
direct object particle
にni
time particle
前mae
before
旅行計画ryokoukeikaku
travel plan
決めるkimeru
to decide
ホテルhoteru
hotel
予約するyoyakusuru
to reserve
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Questions & Answers about ryokoukeikaku wo kimeru mae ni, hoteru wo yoyakusimasu.
Why is を used after 旅行計画 and ホテル?
The particle を marks the direct object of a transitive verb. In this sentence, 旅行計画を決める means “decide the travel itinerary,” and ホテルを予約します means “reserve the hotel.” Each verb needs its own object marker, so を appears twice.
What does 前に mean, and why is the particle に attached?
前に means “before (doing something).” The noun 前 (“before”) becomes an adverbial time expression when you add に, linking it to the main verb 予約します. Without に, you can’t mark it as the time for the action.
Why is 決める in its plain dictionary form before 前に? Could we use other forms?
When you attach 前に to express “before doing X,” you must use the plain dictionary form (決める前に). You cannot use the past or polite form in this structure. If you want “after doing X,” you switch to the た-form plus 後で (e.g. 決めた後で).
Why is there no の between 決める and 前に?
With a verb’s plain dictionary form, you attach 前に directly. Adding の would nominalize the clause unnecessarily. You do use の when modifying nouns or after non-dictionary forms, but here 決める前に is the standard pattern.
Can I say 旅行の計画 instead of 旅行計画? Is there any difference?
Yes. 旅行の計画 is more colloquial and common in speech, while 旅行計画 is a compound noun often seen in writing or titles. Both mean “travel plan,” and you can use them interchangeably.
Why use the verb 決める instead of 立てる for planning?
立てる means “draw up” or “establish” a plan, focusing on creating it. 決める means “decide,” emphasizing settling on details. If you want to highlight formulating an itinerary, 立てる might be better; if you mean finalizing choices, 決める is more natural.
Why is the subject missing in this sentence? Who is doing these actions?
Japanese often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. Here, it’s implied that I (the speaker) will reserve a hotel before deciding the plan. If you wanted to be explicit, you could say (私は)旅行計画を決める前に、ホテルを予約します.
The sentence ends in the polite form 予約します, but it reads like a future action. Does it mean future?
Yes. In Japanese, the non-past form (dictionary or polite) covers both present and future. Here, 予約します expresses your plan or intention to reserve a hotel in the future.