before he could vs before he would

Both "before he could" and "before he would" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Before he could" is used to indicate something that happened before he had the ability to do it, while "before he would" is used to express a hypothetical or imagined situation.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 984 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"before he could"

This phrase is used to indicate that something happened before a person had the ability or opportunity to do it.

Examples:

Before he could reach the finish line, the race was over.
She left before he could say goodbye.
Before he could answer, the phone stopped ringing.

Show examples from the web [+]

Meet the Black Architect Who Designed Duke University 37 Years Before He Could Have Attended It. Friday, January 16, 2015, by Rachel B. Doyle ...
Dec 15, 2014 ... Samaria Rice said in an interview with the Associated Press offices in New York that her son, Tamir Rice, was shot before he could comply with ...
Feb 21, 2015 ... But before he could rebuild his life, Session was shot several times in the chest that September evening. The family has deep ties to Long ...
Mar 11, 2015 ... This blind 10-year-old learned to play the piano before he could speak - and has now been picked by judges to perform alongside the UK's ...

Alternatives:

before he was able to
before he managed to

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English.

"before he would "

This phrase is used to express a hypothetical or imagined situation, often in the context of reported speech or indirect speech.

Examples:

He said he would help, but he left before he would do anything.
She promised she would come, but she left before she would arrive.
Before he would even consider the offer, he needed more information.

Show examples from the web [+]

Why Would God Punish America Before He Would Punish Hindu or Islamic Nations? by, Dave Miller, Ph.D. Essentially, this question was asked by the ancient ...
Jan 25, 2015 ... Courageous Prosecutor Found Shot Dead Hours Before He Would Present Evidence to Congress that His Government Conspired with IRAN to ...
Chapter Parallel · Luke 2:26 (LEB) And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit [that he would] not see death before he would see the Lord's Christ.
Rogers died on the morning of February 27, 2003, at his home with his wife by his side, less than a month before he would have turned 75. His death was such a ...

Alternatives:

before he might
before he could have

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before he could vs before he would

"before he could"

"before he would "

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