ペンをとる前に考えをまとめなければならない。

pen

indicates direct object of action; indicates subject of causative expression; indicates an area traversed; indicates time (period) over which action takes place; indicates point of departure or separation of action; indicates object of desire, like, hate, etc.

is being

ago; before (some event); previously; (minutes) to (the hour); in front (of); before (e.g. the house); head (of a line); front (e.g. of a bus); fore part; in the presence of; helping; portion; privates; private parts

at (place, time); in; on; during; to (direction, state); toward; into; for (purpose); because of (reason); for; with; by; from; as (i.e. in the role of); per; in; for; a (e.g. "once a month"); and; in addition to; if; although

thinking; thought; view; opinion; concept; idea; notion; imagination; intention; plan; design; consideration; judgement; deliberation; reflection; wish; hope; expectation

to collect; to put (it all) together; to integrate; to consolidate; to unify; to summarize; to aggregate; to bring to a conclusion; to finalize; to settle; to put in order; to establish; to decide