Why isn’t antes de or antes de que used?

Question

“podrás ver antes que nadie” Initially I was wondering why antes que is used here instead of antes de, but after doing some research it seems que might be replacing de to signify the change in subject from tu to nadie. Or is it because antes is acting as an adverb here within a fixed expression “poder que” rather than as a preposition? Also wondering why it can’t be antes de que, but I’m thinking this can only be used to introduce a subordinate clause such as Puedes hacer esto antes de que nadie lo haga? Could you please provide some guidance? Thanks in advance!

Inma Sánchez · Accepted Answer

Hola Devin
Antes que nadie = correct and natural
Meaning: before anyone else
The pattern:
antes que + person/indefinite pronoun/personal pronoun (María, alguien, nadie, todos…)
It's more to do with a comparison.

Llegamos antes que María.
We arrived before Maria.
Yo lo sabía antes que tú.
I knew it before you did.

Antes de nadie is unusual / rare
Literal meaning: before [there was] nobody
antes de = “before (the time of)…" It's a temporal reference
It needs a noun, verb in infinitive, or event — nadie is an indefinite pronoun, not a concrete time or event.
The pattern:
antes de + noun / infinitive (comer, la reunión, mi llegada…)

Beberemos unos vinos antes de la cena.
We'll drink some wine before dinner.
Antes de comer deberíamos pasear por el parque.
Before eating we should walk in the park.
Me lo dijo antes de su llegada. 
He told me before her arrival.

You're right to think that antes de que... needs a subordinate clause like:

Yo llegué antes de que María llegara.
I arrived before María arrived.
Se lo daré antes de que se vaya.
I'll give it to her before she leaves.

I hope this shows some light.
Saludos
Inma

Devin Prowell · Answer

Never mind, I just found the B2 lesson on this. Using antes de que/después de que with indicative or subjunctive in Spanish (subordinate time clauses) (Spain)

It seems the de in antes (de) que is understood and is frequently omitted, and that I can use antes de, omitting que with an infinitive/perfect infinitive structure in place of the subjunctive that would follow the conjunction que.

Devin Prowell · Answer

Thank You, Inma!! This is really helpful. Please disregard my response to my own question. Not sure how to delete. Best, Devin