Breakdown of Antes de salir, voy a comprobar el horario del autobús.
yo
I
a
to
ir
to go
antes de
before
el autobús
the bus
el horario
the schedule
salir
to leave
del
of the
comprobar
to check
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Questions & Answers about Antes de salir, voy a comprobar el horario del autobús.
Why is it antes de salir and not antes salir?
In Spanish, antes de must be followed by a noun or an infinitive. After a preposition like de, verbs must be in the infinitive: antes de salir. Saying antes salir is ungrammatical.
When do I use antes de vs. antes de que?
- Use antes de + infinitive when the subject stays the same: Antes de salir, voy a… (same “I”).
- Use antes de que + subjunctive when the subject changes: Antes de que tú salgas, voy a… / Antes de que salgamos, voy a….
Why is there a comma after Antes de salir?
When a subordinate clause comes first, Spanish normally uses a comma: Antes de salir, …. If the main clause comes first, no comma is needed: Voy a comprobar… antes de salir.
Why use voy a comprobar instead of comprobaré?
Ir a + infinitive (voy a…) is very common in Latin America for near future or planned actions, similar to English “I’m going to…”. Comprobaré is also correct but can sound more formal, distant, or like a prediction. Both are acceptable here.
Could I say revisar, verificar, checar, chequear, mirar or consultar instead of comprobar?
Yes, depending on region and register:
- Neutral/common: revisar, consultar, verificar (more formal/technical).
- Regional: checar (Mexico), chequear (Caribbean, parts of South America).
All can fit: Voy a revisar/consultar el horario…
Is comprobar irregular?
Yes, in the present it’s o→ue: compruebo, compruebas, comprueba, comprobamos, comprueban. The infinitive comprobar (as in this sentence) doesn’t change. Preterite: comprobé, comprobaste, comprobó… (no stem change).
Why is it el horario and not just horario?
Spanish uses definite articles more than English does. Here you’re referring to a specific, known schedule, so el horario is natural. Without an article sounds incomplete in this context.
What’s the difference between hora and horario?
- hora = a specific time (e.g., 7:30).
- horario = a schedule/timetable (a list or plan of times).
So you check the horario to find the hora.
Why del autobús and not de el autobús?
Spanish contracts de + el to del. So it must be del autobús. Also note the written accent in autobús.
Can I say del bus instead of del autobús?
Yes. Bus is widely used. Regional options: camión (Mexico), colectivo/bondi (Argentina), micro (Chile), ómnibus (Uruguay/Peru), guagua (Caribbean like Puerto Rico/Dominican Republic). Use what’s local: el horario del camión/colectivo…
What’s the nuance between el horario del autobús and el horario de autobuses?
- del autobús = the schedule of a specific bus/route.
- de autobuses (plural, generic) = the bus schedules in general (e.g., at a station or in a city).
Why not horario para el autobús?
For relationships like “schedule of X,” Spanish prefers de: horario del autobús. Para indicates purpose (e.g., un horario para mañana = a schedule for tomorrow), not possession/association.
Could I put the time clause at the end: Voy a comprobar el horario del autobús antes de salir?
Yes. Both orders are correct. When the antes de clause comes first, use the comma; when it comes last, you typically don’t.
Do I ever need a reflexive pronoun here, like me voy a comprobar?
No. Comprobar takes a direct object (what you check), not a reflexive pronoun. You might see reflexive with a different verb: Antes de irme, voy a comprobar…, but that’s irse, not comprobar.
Can I use object pronouns with this structure (e.g., “check it”)?
Yes, either position works:
- Lo voy a comprobar.
- Voy a comprobarlo.
Both are correct with ir a + infinitive.
Does salir need de?
When you name the place, yes: salir de casa, salir del trabajo. In antes de salir, the de belongs to antes de, not to salir; you’re not specifying a place there.
What’s the difference between salir and irse here?
- salir = to go out/leave (focus on the action of exiting).
- irse = to go away/leave (focus on departing and not being present).
Both can work in everyday speech, but antes de salir is the standard choice for “before leaving (heading out).”
Could I say Antes de partir instead of Antes de salir?
Yes, but partir sounds more formal or is used for scheduled departures of transport. Salir is the default for people casually “leaving/heading out.”
How’s the pronunciation of tricky parts?
- horario: the h is silent; stress on -ra-.
- autobús: stress on the last syllable (-bús); keep the written accent.
- salir: the final r is a light tap.
- b/v sound the same in Spanish, so comprobar has the same sound as if it had a v.
Is Iré a comprobar okay?
It’s grammatical but usually means “I will go (somewhere) to check.” Voy a comprobar = “I’m going to check (now/soon),” without implying physical movement.