Temporal clauses (antes de que)

Emergency Cleanup

Before the parents get home, you'll need some essential supplies to get the house back in order.

I am airing out the house because the smell is horrible.
Ventilo la casa porque el olor es horrible.
Have you already used the broom or the vacuum cleaner?
¿Ya has usado la escoba o la aspiradora?
I need the mop and a bucket with water.
Necesito la fregona y un cubo con agua.

Using "antes de que"

When an action happens "before" another, use the conjunction antes de que. When the subject of the main clause is different from the subject of the antes de que clause, the second verb MUST be in the subjunctive.

For example, if I (subject 1) want the bottles to disappear before my aunts (subject 2) arrive, the verb llegar takes the subjunctive form lleguen.

I want the bottles to disappear before my aunts arrive.
Quiero que las botellas desaparezcan antes de que lleguen mis tías.

Notice how the first verb is in the indicative, but the verb after antes de que is in the present subjunctive:

You have to air out the room before Grandpa discovers this smell.
Tienes que ventilar la habitación antes de que el abuelo descubra este olor.
We'll mop the floor with bleach before our mom sees it.
Fregamos el suelo con lejía antes de que nuestra madre lo vea.
We look for the broom and the vacuum cleaner before the parents arrive.
Buscamos la escoba y la aspiradora antes de que lleguen los padres.
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