Antes de correr, tengo que hacer estiramientos para preparar los músculos.

Before running, I have to do stretches to prepare my muscles.

Breakdown of Antes de correr, tengo que hacer estiramientos para preparar los músculos.

• yo: I
• de: of
• tener: to have
• correr: to run

Questions & Answers about Antes de correr, tengo que hacer estiramientos para preparar los músculos.

Why is it “Antes de correr” and not just “Antes correr”?

In Spanish, “antes” (before) normally needs the preposition “de” before an infinitive or a noun:

• Antes de correr = Before running
• Antes de la clase = Before class

“Antes correr” is ungrammatical in this context. Think of “antes de” as a fixed chunk when it’s followed by an action (infinitive) or a thing (noun).

Why is it “Antes de correr” and not “Antes de corro”?

After prepositions like de, Spanish uses the infinitive, not a conjugated verb:

• ❌ Antes de corro
• ✅ Antes de correr (before I run / before running)

English says “before I run” (a finite verb), but Spanish uses “antes de + infinitive” to express the same idea. The subject (I) is understood from context.

Could I say “Antes de correr, yo tengo que hacer estiramientos”?

Yes, but it sounds more formal or emphatic. In Spanish, the subject pronoun (yo) is usually omitted unless you want to:

• contrast: Yo tengo que hacer estiramientos, pero él no.
• emphasize: Yo tengo que hacerlo, nadie más.

So the natural version is:

• Antes de correr, tengo que hacer estiramientos.