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# antecedent

noun (an antecedent, antecedents); adjective (antecedent — formal)

«antecedent» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An antecedent is something that came before something else and led to it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#m1)
2. (grammar) An antecedent is the noun or phrase that a pronoun refers back to: in «Sam lost his hat», «Sam» is the antecedent of «his». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#m2)
3. (plural, formal) Your antecedents are your ancestors or family background. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#m3)
4. (formal adjective) Antecedent means coming before. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#m4)

### In the lessons

Used in English grammar lessons (pronouns and their antecedents), history (antecedents of a war) and formal writing.

### Examples

- In «The dog wagged its tail», «dog» is the antecedent of «its». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#x1)
- Make sure every pronoun has a clear antecedent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#x2)
- The bicycle's antecedent was a wooden walking machine. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#x3)
- The causes antecedent to the war were complicated. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#x4)
- His antecedents came from Ireland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#x5)
- The penny-farthing was an antecedent of the modern bike. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/#x6)

### Note

Formal word. Pronounced an-tih-SEE-dent. Opposite idea: «consequence» or «successor». In grammar, an unclear antecedent confuses readers: «Tom told Ben he was late» — who was late?

## In Jewish tradition

Used in English grammar lessons (pronouns and their antecedents), history (antecedents of a war) and formal writing.

### Note

Formal word. Pronounced an-tih-SEE-dent. Opposite idea: «consequence» or «successor». In grammar, an unclear antecedent confuses readers: «Tom told Ben he was late» — who was late?

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «antecedent» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/antecedent/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«antecedent» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/antecedent.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «antecedent» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/antecedent/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«antecedent» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/antecedent.html) on Mova free.