Antecedent Definition & Meaning

Antecedents: 

• An antecedents is the word that a pronoun refers to. 
• In Latin, the word antecedents means “to go before”. 

• It gets its name from the idea that a pronoun refers to something previously mentioned to the sentence. 
• Example: “When you see the teacher, please tell her I’ll be ten minutes late to the assembly.” 
• Teacher- Antecedent 

Her- Pronoun 

• The antecedent of  a pronoun is a noun or noun phrase. 

• Some times the pronoun might come before the antecedent. 
• Examples: “When you see her, please tell the teacher I’ll be ten minutes late to the assembly.” 

Teacher- Antecedent 

• A phrase or clause between the subject and verb does not change the number of antecedent. 

• A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number, gender, and person. 
• If the antecedent is singular, a singular pronoun is required. 
• The plural antecedent requires a plural pronoun. 
• Let’s see some singular antecedents that require singular pronouns: 
• Anybody, Anyone, Each, Either, Everybody, Everyone, Neither, Nobody, One, Somebody, Someone 

• Singular antecedents that require singular pronouns. 
• Singular antecedents joined by or/nor to be a singular pronoun. 

Example: John nor Dave could find his dress. 

• Collective nouns may take either a singular or a plural pronoun, depending on the meaning of  the sentences. 

Example: The cast is having its picture taken.” 

• Here the cast is considered to be one group. So, the singular pronoun is used.