Перед тим як садити розсаду, ми кладемо компост на грядку.

Before planting seedlings, we put compost on the garden bed.

Breakdown of Перед тим як садити розсаду, ми кладемо компост на грядку.

• ми: we
• на: on
• перед тим як: before
• класти: to put

Questions & Answers about Перед тим як садити розсаду, ми кладемо компост на грядку.

What does перед тим як mean?

It means before or before doing something.

In this sentence:

• Перед тим як садити розсаду = Before planting the seedlings

Literally, перед = before, тим = that, and як = how/as/when, but as a whole it functions like a fixed expression meaning before.

Why is садити in the infinitive?

Because Ukrainian often uses the infinitive after expressions like перед тим як when the action is being described in a general way.

So:

• садити = to plant
• перед тим як садити розсаду = before planting seedlings

English often uses -ing here (before planting), but Ukrainian commonly uses the infinitive.

Why is it садити, not посадити?