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Wed 4 Sep, 2013 08:25 am
Because "before" indicates the past.
Context:
About 40,000 Syrians fled to Iraq in the last two weeks of August, and 13,000 arrived in Lebanon in the past week. Over all, close to 5,000 Syrians are leaving every day.
“It clearly demonstrates that we are witnessing a conflict in constant escalation,” Mr. Guterres said. “We have to be prepared for things to get much worse before, eventually, they start to get better.”
@oristarA,
Here, "before" indicates previousness, the previousness of things getting much worse to things starting to get better.
@oristarA,
'Before' may also mean 'until'. In the cited sentence, it references the order of events as 'before', not 'after'.
@oristarA,
Quote:Because "before" indicates the past.
It most certainly does not always indicate the past, Ori.
Example: I won't give you the key before 10AM tomorrow.
“We have to be prepared for things to get much worse before, eventually, they start to get better.”
“We have to be prepared for things to get much worse [in the near future] before, eventually, they start to get better.”
Quote:
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/before
ADVERB:
Earlier in time: They called me the day before.
In front; ahead.
PREPOSITION:
Previous to in time; earlier than.
In front of.
In store for; awaiting: The young man's whole life lies before him.
Into or in the presence of: She asked that the visitor be brought before her.
Under the consideration or jurisdiction of: The case is now before the court.
In a position superior to: The prince is before his brother in the line of succession.
CONJUNCTION:
In advance of the time when: See me before you leave.
Rather than; sooner than: I will die before I will betray my country.
Thank you guys.
As I reread the sentence, suddenly it dawns on me:
“We have to be prepared for things to get much worse before, eventually, they start to get better.”
==>> Before they start to get better, we have to be prepared for things to get much worse.
It makes sense and it is practically common sense.
@oristarA,
To make sure that the "them" is understood to mean "situation", I'd suggest;
Before things start to get better, we have to be prepared for them to get much worse.
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