before we felt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before we felt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time prior to experiencing a particular emotion or sensation. Example: "Before we felt the warmth of the sun, we were shivering in the cold."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"Because we have tried to do this several times before, we felt that it was particularly important that we have everything in place" before announcing the building, she said.

The New York Times

In fact, as we traced parts of the Santa Fe Trail, recalling the discomforts of pioneers who came before, we felt a little sheepish about our new-age Conestoga wagon.

The New York Times

"Before, we felt a stigma.

The New York Times - Arts

"Before, we felt more restricted in our own silos, our own lanes.

The New York Times

Mahesh Kirar, her former employer, says: "Before, we felt if our kids interacted with them, they would learn bad language.

The Guardian

That night, at a gathering of friends, I asked the group how much time would have to pass before we felt comfortable flying again.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"We are playing better than we ever have before, we feel like the shows are the best they've ever been," guitarist Jimmy Smith told the BBC.

BBC

If we felt no sympathy for Emma before, we feel it now.

The New Yorker

"Governments come and governments go, and it's only a matter of time before we feel the increasing pressure.

The Guardian

How many superbly well-grooved Italian centre-backs is it necessary to include before we feel we've probably got the point by now?

The Guardian - Sport

Modern secular culture is one in which, more than ever before, we feel entitled to make the changes that fit our dreams and aspirations.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before we felt" to clearly establish a sequence of events, emphasizing the state or situation preceding a feeling or sensation. For instance, "Before we felt the tremor, the birds had already flown away."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses that might confuse the sequence of events. Instead of saying "Before we feel it, we saw it", use "Before we felt it, we saw it" to maintain proper tense consistency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before we felt" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating time. It introduces a clause that specifies when something occurred in relation to a feeling or sensation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before we felt" is a grammatically sound and useful construction for establishing a temporal sequence, indicating what preceded a particular feeling or sensation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is appropriate for use in written English. It appears most commonly in News & Media contexts, with less frequent occurrences in Scientific or Formal writing. While alternative phrases like "prior to our feeling" or "before experiencing" can be used, "before we felt" provides a clear and direct way to express the order of events. Be mindful of maintaining consistent verb tenses to avoid potential errors in usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before experiencing

This alternative replaces "felt" with "experiencing", focusing on the sensation.

up until we felt

This indicates all the time to the moment when we felt something.

prior to our feeling

This alternative replaces the clause with a prepositional phrase, making it more concise.

until we sensed

This alternative utilizes the word "sensed" to highlight the sensory aspect.

leading up to our sensation

This focuses on the period of time directly preceding the feeling.

before the sensation arose

This emphasizes the beginning or emergence of the feeling.

in anticipation of feeling

This alternative emphasizes the expectation or anticipation of the feeling.

prior to our emotional response

This alternative specifically addresses the emotional aspect of the experience.

previous to our perception

This alternative uses a more formal tone and emphasizes the perception of something.

before the feeling became apparent

This clarifies that the feeling was not noticeable until a certain point.

FAQs

How can I use "before we felt" in a sentence?

You can use "before we felt" to indicate a state or situation that existed prior to experiencing a particular emotion or sensation. For example, "Before we felt the warmth of the sun, we were shivering in the cold."

What are some alternatives to "before we felt"?

Alternatives include "prior to our feeling", "before experiencing", or "leading up to our sensation" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "before we felt" and "after we felt"?

"Before we felt" indicates the time preceding the feeling, while "after we felt" indicates the time following the feeling. They represent opposite ends of a temporal sequence.

Which is correct: "before we had felt" or "before we felt"?

Both can be correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Before we felt" is simpler and generally preferred, indicating a direct sequence. "Before we had felt" emphasizes that the feeling was completed before another past action, using the past perfect tense. The simple past is more common.