C1 noun Formal

antecedent

/ˌæntɪˈsiːdənt/

An antecedent is a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another. In grammar, it specifically refers to a word, phrase, or clause that a pronoun replaces or refers back to later in a sentence.

Ejemplos

3 de 5
1

We can't judge his current actions without looking at his personal antecedents.

We cannot evaluate his current behavior without considering his past history and background.

2

The legal counsel argued that there were no historical antecedents for such a restrictive policy.

The lawyer stated that no previous historical examples existed for this specific type of law.

3

He's a bit of a mystery; nobody really knows his antecedents or where he grew up.

He is quite mysterious because no one knows his family background or his past.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
antecedent
Verb
antecede
Adverbio
antecedently
Adjetivo
antecedent
Relacionado
antecedence
💡

Truco para recordar

Break the word into parts: 'ante' means 'before' (like 'ante' in a card game) and 'cede' means 'to go'. An antecedent is something that 'goes before'.

Quiz rápido

The professor noted that the pronoun in the second paragraph lacked a clear _______, making the sentence confusing.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: antecedent

Ejemplos

1

We can't judge his current actions without looking at his personal antecedents.

everyday

We cannot evaluate his current behavior without considering his past history and background.

2

The legal counsel argued that there were no historical antecedents for such a restrictive policy.

formal

The lawyer stated that no previous historical examples existed for this specific type of law.

3

He's a bit of a mystery; nobody really knows his antecedents or where he grew up.

informal

He is quite mysterious because no one knows his family background or his past.

4

In the sentence 'John lost his keys,' 'John' is the grammatical antecedent of the pronoun 'his'.

academic

In this specific sentence, the name 'John' is the word that the pronoun 'his' refers to.

5

The economic crisis had several antecedents, including a housing bubble and loose lending standards.

business

There were several prior events that led to the economic crisis, such as a housing bubble.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
antecedent
Verb
antecede
Adverbio
antecedently
Adjetivo
antecedent
Relacionado
antecedence

Colocaciones comunes

historical antecedent A previous event in history that serves as a comparison.
grammatical antecedent The noun that a pronoun refers back to in a sentence.
antecedent conditions Circumstances that exist before an event occurs.
clear antecedent A noun that is easily identifiable as the reference for a pronoun.
logical antecedent The prior part of a conditional statement or logical argument.

Frases Comunes

without antecedent

Having no prior example or history; unprecedented.

antecedent to

Happening or existing before something else.

search for antecedents

Looking into the history or origins of a person or thing.

Se confunde a menudo con

antecedent vs precedent

An antecedent is simply something that came before; a precedent is a previous event that serves as a specific rule or guide for future cases.

antecedent vs ancestor

Ancestor usually refers specifically to biological family members, while antecedent can refer to events, things, or words in a sentence.

📝

Notas de uso

The word is most frequently used in academic writing, law, and linguistics. When used in plural (antecedents), it often refers to a person's ancestors or past history.

⚠️

Errores comunes

Learners often use 'antecedent' when they mean 'precedent' in a legal context, or they use it in very casual conversation where 'background' or 'past' would be more natural.

💡

Truco para recordar

Break the word into parts: 'ante' means 'before' (like 'ante' in a card game) and 'cede' means 'to go'. An antecedent is something that 'goes before'.

📖

Origen de la palabra

Derived from the Latin 'antecedentem', which combines 'ante' (before) and 'cedere' (to go).

Patrones gramaticales

Used as a countable noun. Often followed by the preposition 'of' or 'to'. Can function as an adjective in formal logic or linguistics.
🌍

Contexto cultural

In Western genealogy and legal systems, tracing antecedents is a common practice for establishing identity or legal rights.

Quiz rápido

The professor noted that the pronoun in the second paragraph lacked a clear _______, making the sentence confusing.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: antecedent

Palabras relacionadas

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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