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something that comes before another in time
a distant ancestor, typically earlier than a grandparent
a word, phrase, or clause that is mentioned prior to a pronoun or anaphoric expression and to which the pronoun or anaphor refers
What is an "antecedent"?
An antecedent is a word or phrase that is referred to by a pronoun later in a sentence or discourse. It provides the meaning or context for the pronoun, helping to clarify who or what is being discussed. For example, in the sentence "The teacher assigned homework, and she explained the project," "the teacher" is the antecedent of the pronoun "she." Understanding antecedents is important for maintaining coherence in language, as it ensures that pronouns are clearly connected to their corresponding nouns, enhancing clarity in communication.
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