<P> In grammar , an antecedent is an expression ( word , phrase , clause , sentence , etc . ) that gives its meaning to a proform ( pronoun , pro-verb , pro-adverb , etc . ) . A proform takes its meaning from its antecedent , e.g. `` Ava arrived late because traffic held her up '' . The pronoun her refers to and takes its meaning from Ava , so Ava is the antecedent of her . Proforms usually follow their antecedents , but sometimes they precede them , in which case one is , technically , dealing with postcedents instead of antecedents . The prefix ante - means `` before '' or `` in front of '' , and post - means `` after '' or `` behind '' . The term antecedent stems from traditional grammar . The linguistic term that is closely related to antecedent and proform is anaphora . Theories of syntax explore the distinction between antecedents and postcedents in terms of binding . </P>
<P> In grammar , an antecedent is an expression ( word , phrase , clause , sentence , etc . ) that gives its meaning to a proform ( pronoun , pro-verb , pro-adverb , etc . ) . A proform takes its meaning from its antecedent , e.g. `` Ava arrived late because traffic held her up '' . The pronoun her refers to and takes its meaning from Ava , so Ava is the antecedent of her . Proforms usually follow their antecedents , but sometimes they precede them , in which case one is , technically , dealing with postcedents instead of antecedents . The prefix ante - means `` before '' or `` in front of '' , and post - means `` after '' or `` behind '' . The term antecedent stems from traditional grammar . The linguistic term that is closely related to antecedent and proform is anaphora . Theories of syntax explore the distinction between antecedents and postcedents in terms of binding . </P>
what is the meaning of antecedent in english
what is the meaning of antecedent in english
an expression ( word , phrase , clause , sentence , etc . ) that gives its meaning to a proform ( pronoun , pro-verb , pro-adverb , etc . )
an expression ( word , phrase , clause , sentence , etc . ) that gives its meaning to a proform ( pronoun , pro-verb , pro-adverb , etc . )