Antecedent Grammar Lesson: Definition, Usage and Examples
Lesson Overview
- What Is an Antecedent in Grammar?
- Role and Usage of Antecedents in Sentences
- Antecedent Examples
- Antecedent Assessments
What Is an Antecedent in Grammar?
An antecedent is the word that a pronoun refers to in a sentence. It usually comes before the pronoun, and the pronoun must match it in number (singular or plural) and gender.
For example:
- The dog wagged its tail.
Here, "dog" is the antecedent, and "its" is the pronoun. - Sarah loves her cat.
In this sentence, "Sarah" is the antecedent, and "her" is the pronoun.
Pronouns like he, she, it, they, and others must have clear antecedents to avoid confusion. Antecedents make sentences easier to understand by connecting ideas clearly.
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Role and Usage of Antecedents in Sentences
The role of antecedents is to provide clarity, avoid repetition, and connect ideas. Without clear antecedents, sentences can confuse the reader.
Rules for Using Antecedents
- Pronouns and Antecedents Must Match the Number
If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must also be singular. If it is plural, the pronoun must be plural.
Example:- Singular: The boy took his book. ("boy" and "his" match in number.)
- Plural: The girls finished their homework. ("girls" and "their" match in number.)
- Pronouns and Antecedents Must Match in Gender
The pronoun must match the gender of the antecedent.
Example:- Masculine: John loves his car. ("John" is masculine, so "his" is used.)
- Feminine: Emma played with her doll. ("Emma" is feminine, so "her" is used.)
The Antecedent Must Be Clear
The reader should always know which noun the pronoun refers to.
Unclear: Mary and Lisa went shopping, but she forgot her wallet. (Who forgot the wallet?)
Clear: Mary and Lisa went shopping, but Mary forgot her wallet.
Using Antecedents Correctly
- Use Specific Antecedents
Always make it clear what the pronoun refers to.
Example:- Unclear: When Alex called Joe, he was busy. (Who was busy?)
- Clear: When Alex called Joe, Alex was busy.
- Avoid Missing Antecedents
Make sure there is an antecedent before the pronoun.
Example:- Incorrect: It is a beautiful day. (What is "it"?)
- Correct: The weather is beautiful today.
- Ensure Consistency in Sentences
Keep the antecedent and pronouns consistent in the sentence.
Example:- Incorrect: The team won their game. (Team is singular, but "their" is plural.)
Correct: The team won its game.
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Antecedent Examples
| Type | Sentence | Antecedent | Pronoun |
| Singular | Sarah forgot her umbrella at home. | Sarah | her |
| The cat licked its paw after eating. | cat | its | |
| John cleaned his room before leaving. | John | his | |
| The book is missing its cover. | book | its | |
| A student must bring his or her supplies to class. | student | his or her | |
| Plural | The children played with their toys. | children | their |
| Teachers shared their strategies for better learning. | teachers | their | |
| The dogs barked loudly and wagged their tails. | dogs | their | |
| The students submitted their assignments on time. | students | their | |
| Birds build their nests using twigs and leaves. | birds | their | |
| Ambiguous | Alex told Jordan that he was late. | Alex/Jordan | he |
| Sarah and Lisa said she would call later. | Sarah/Lisa | she | |
| The boys spoke to Mr. Brown, and he gave advice. | boys/Mr. Brown | he | |
| Rachel helped her sister because she was tired. | Rachel/sister | she | |
| The box is on the table, and it is broken. | box/table | it |
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Antecedent Assessments
Exercise 1: Identify the antecedent in each sentence.
- James put his coat on the chair.
- The birds built their nests in the tree.
- Lisa loves her new dress.
Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentence to make the antecedent clear.
- They said the cake was delicious.
- It was raining, so the kids stayed indoors.
Exercise 3: Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun.
- The baby cried because ___ was hungry.
- The dogs wagged ___ tails happily.
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