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.

Exemplos

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.

Família de palavras

Substantivo
antecedent
Verb
antecede
Advérbio
antecedently
Adjetivo
antecedent
Relacionado
antecedence
💡

Dica de memorização

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.

Correto!

A resposta correta é: antecedent

Exemplos

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.

Família de palavras

Substantivo
antecedent
Verb
antecede
Advérbio
antecedently
Adjetivo
antecedent
Relacionado
antecedence

Colocações comuns

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 Comuns

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.

Frequentemente confundido com

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.

⚠️

Erros comuns

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.

💡

Dica de memorização

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'.

📖

Origem da palavra

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

Padrões gramaticais

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.

Correto!

A resposta correta é: antecedent

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B2

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B2

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B2

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erosion

B2

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B2

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afforestation

B2

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B2

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B2

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