Spanish · A2 · Family moment
Before We Cross in Spanish
Establish safety routines for the journey to and from school by learning how to use 'before' (antes de) to sequence actions and keep children safe.
What you'll learn
- Express temporal sequences using 'antes de'.
- Identify road safety vocabulary like 'cross', 'brakes', and 'helmet'.
- Give gentle instructions for safe travel habits.
Spanish phrases for before we cross
Dame la mano antes de cruzar la calle.
Hold my hand before we cross the road.
'Dame la mano' is a common way to say 'give me your hand'.
Mira a ambos lados antes de cruzar.
Look both ways before you step onto the road.
'Cruzar' covers the action of stepping onto and crossing the road.
Espera a la luz verde antes de cruzar.
Wait for the green light before you cross.
'Luz verde' refers to the pedestrian signal.
Ponte el casco antes de ir al colegio en bici.
Put on your helmet before you ride to school.
'Ponte' is the imperative for 'put on yourself'.
Revisa los frenos antes de salir de casa.
Check your brakes before you leave home.
'Revisa' means to check or inspect.
Espera a que el autobús pare antes de subir.
Wait until the bus stops before you get on.
'Subir' is used for getting on/boarding a vehicle.
Mira si vienen bicis antes de abrir la puerta del coche.
Look for bikes before you open the car door.
'Si vienen' literally means 'if they are coming'.
Dímelo antes de volver a casa con un amigo.
Tell me before you walk home with a friend.
'Dímelo' translates to 'tell it to me'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Cruzar
To cross
Used for crossing streets, bridges, or paths.
La calle
The road/street
General term for a paved way in a town.
El casco
The helmet
Essential for bike safety.
El semáforo
The traffic light
A useful term when explaining road rules.
Using 'Antes de' for Sequences
In Spanish, to say 'before doing something', we use 'antes de' followed by the infinitive (the base form of the verb). This is very common when the subject of the sentence remains the same.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before + Infinitive | Antes de + Verb (Infinitive) | Antes de cruzar (Before crossing) |
| Before + Subjunctive | Antes de que + Subjunctive | Antes de que el bus pare (Before the bus stops) |
More examples
Mira el semáforo antes de cruzar.
Look at the traffic light before crossing.
A simple way to reinforce the 'antes de' structure.
Lávate las manos antes de comer.
Wash your hands before eating.
Another daily routine using the same 'antes de' pattern.