Put sth before sb Meaning, Examples & How to Use Correctly

What Does “Put sth before sb” Mean?

“Put sth before sb” means to prioritize something over a person. It shows that one thing is considered more important than another.

Introduction

The phrase “Put sth before sb” is commonly used in English to express the idea of placing higher importance on one thing rather than a person. The “sth” stands for “something,” and “sb” means “somebody.” Understanding the “Put sth before sb” meaning helps learners know how to talk about priorities and values in relationships, work, or life decisions. This phrasal verb is useful when discussing choices where one must decide what matters most.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Put something before somebody
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: To consider something more important than someone else

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Put sth before sb” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object “something” either before or after the preposition “before.”

• Put + something + before + somebody
• Put + before + somebody + something (less common)

Example: “She puts her career before her family.” (correct and common)

How to Use Put sth before sb?

Use this phrase when you want to explain that one thing is more important than a person. It often appears in discussions about values, decisions, and priorities. The object (sth) is usually a noun or noun phrase, like “work,” “money,” or “ambitions.” The person (sb) is usually someone close, like a friend, family member, or partner.

Examples

People often say “Put sth before sb” to explain difficult choices. Here are some examples to help you understand how to use this phrase in a sentence:

• He always puts his job before his friends.
• Don’t put money before your health.
• She put her education before her social life.
• They put their children before everything else.
• It’s wrong to put work before family all the time.

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse the order of words or use the wrong preposition. Let’s look at some incorrect and correct examples:

• Incorrect: Put before sb sth.
• Correct: Put sth before sb.
• Incorrect: Put sb before sth (changes meaning).
• Correct: Put sth before sb (means something is more important).

Remember, the phrase means prioritizing something over a person, so the order matters.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrases include “prioritize something over someone” or “value something more than someone.” However, “put sth before sb” is more common and informal.

• Put sth before sb: Focus on priority or importance.
• Prioritize sth over sb: More formal, used in business or planning.
• Value sth more than sb: Shows emotional or personal preference.

Common Collocations

People often use “put sth before sb” with common objects that reflect priorities. Here are some collocations:

• Put work before family: Prioritize job over family life.
• Put money before friends: Choose wealth over friendships.
• Put health before pleasure: Choose well-being over fun.
• Put career before relationships: Focus on job instead of love life.
• Put ambition before comfort: Choose goals over ease.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of put sth before sb:

• Put Up With Sth
• Put Sth In For Sth
• Put Sth Above Sth
• Put Sb Through
• Put Sb Through Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using the phrase naturally:

Alice: I feel like John always puts work before me.

Maria: That’s tough. Sometimes people don’t realize what they’re doing.

Alice: Yeah, I wish he’d put me before his job sometimes.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “put sth before sb.”

• She always _________ her studies _________ her social life.
• Don’t _________ money _________ your health.
• They _________ their children _________ everything else.

FAQ

• What does “put sth before sb” mean? It means to consider something more important than a person.
• Is “put sth before sb” separable? Yes, you can separate the object from the rest of the phrase.
• Can I say “put sb before sth”? Yes, but it means the opposite: prioritizing the person over something.
• What are common things to put before someone? Work, money, health, career, or ambitions.
• Is this phrase formal or informal? It is mostly informal but suitable for everyday conversation.