As a language expert with a deep understanding of both English and Chinese, I'm here to provide you with a comprehensive and accurate response to your question. The phrase "prior to" is a prepositional phrase that indicates something happening before a specific time or event. It's often used to establish a sequence of events or to refer to a time that comes before another time in a series.

Step 1: English Explanation

When we use "prior to," we are essentially saying that something occurs before another thing. It's a way to express the chronological order of events or to highlight the timing of an action relative to another. Here are some examples to illustrate its usage:

1. "Prior to the meeting, we need to finalize the agenda." - This means that the action of finalizing the agenda should be completed before the meeting starts.

2. "Prior to the storm, the sky turned dark and the wind began to pick up." - Here, the phrase sets the stage for the storm by describing the conditions that came before it.

3. "She had a prior agreement with the company, which prevented her from accepting the new offer." - In this case, "prior to" is used to refer to an agreement that was made before the new offer.

4. "Prior to that time, the area was known for its lush forests and abundant wildlife." - The phrase is used to describe the state of the area before a certain point in time.

5. "He decided to study abroad prior to starting his career." - This indicates that the decision to study was made before beginning a professional career.

The phrase "prior to" can also be used in more formal or academic contexts, where it serves to clearly delineate the order of events or to emphasize the importance of an action that took place before another. It's a versatile phrase that can be used in a variety of contexts, from everyday conversation to formal writing.

Step 2: Divider

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preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous: A prior agreement prevents me from accepting this. ... Prior to that time, buffalo had roamed the Great Plains in tremendous numbers.read more >>