usage of ahead to express the time

[Snowcake]

Hi banderas

First, "ahead of [the] ceremony" is correct; "ahead of the beginning ..." isn't because it's near redundant. Second, "ahead" collates with 'of time' more so than 'of [noun]':

1. You'd better be there ahead of time, before the opening ceremony.

2. You'd better be there ahead of the opening ceremony. (Meaning, before it starts)

Third, Khalid's example "ahead the ceremony" isn't correct, and Snowcake's example, "ahead of the beginning" doesn't work.

Hi Soup

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Thanks a lot.