adverb
Adverb
Adverb
Adverb
adverbial clause
adverbial clause
"Before" is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a dependent clause. It is used to show the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause in a sentence.
The clause shown in parentheses before "they had dinner" is a subordinate clause, specifically an adverbial clause. It provides additional information about the timing or condition related to the main clause. This type of clause typically cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Noun
dependent clause
Pertaining to what? A light switch, an oven light, a pull chain type lampholder....???
The phrase "before they had dinner" is a subordinate (or dependent) clause. It provides a time context for an action but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It introduces the idea of what happened prior to the main action.