antecedent
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.
Examples
3 of 5We 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.
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.
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.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
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'.
Quick Quiz
The professor noted that the pronoun in the second paragraph lacked a clear _______, making the sentence confusing.
Correct!
The correct answer is: antecedent
Examples
We can't judge his current actions without looking at his personal antecedents.
everydayWe cannot evaluate his current behavior without considering his past history and background.
The legal counsel argued that there were no historical antecedents for such a restrictive policy.
formalThe lawyer stated that no previous historical examples existed for this specific type of law.
He's a bit of a mystery; nobody really knows his antecedents or where he grew up.
informalHe is quite mysterious because no one knows his family background or his past.
In the sentence 'John lost his keys,' 'John' is the grammatical antecedent of the pronoun 'his'.
academicIn this specific sentence, the name 'John' is the word that the pronoun 'his' refers to.
The economic crisis had several antecedents, including a housing bubble and loose lending standards.
businessThere were several prior events that led to the economic crisis, such as a housing bubble.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
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.
Often Confused With
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.
Ancestor usually refers specifically to biological family members, while antecedent can refer to events, things, or words in a sentence.
Usage Notes
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
Memory Tip
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'.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'antecedentem', which combines 'ante' (before) and 'cedere' (to go).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Western genealogy and legal systems, tracing antecedents is a common practice for establishing identity or legal rights.
Quick Quiz
The professor noted that the pronoun in the second paragraph lacked a clear _______, making the sentence confusing.
Correct!
The correct answer is: antecedent
Related Words
to
A1Used 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
A1A 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
A1A 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
A1This 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
A1The 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
A1Used 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
A1A 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
A1A 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
A1A 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
A1Used 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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