N to n
The 'run-up' group
These nouns refer to the things that happen before a particular event begins, or to the first part of an event or process.
The final countdown to Christmas has brought the usual last minute rush of shoppers onto the streets.
The event is a prelude to the World Match Race Tournament next month.
The prime minister says he intends to make education the key issue in the run-up to the election.
Coventry haven't had a brilliant start to the season but they're not doing too badly.
In the case of most of these nouns, especially prelude, the preposition to is sometimes followed by an '-ing' clause.build-up countdown lead-up opening precondition preliminary prelude prologue run-up start
The banks plan to open for only three days this week, possibly as a prelude to suspending their transactions permanently.
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