An antecedent is a linguistic expression
which provides the interpretation for a second expression (anaphor) which has
little meaning of its own. An antecedent is usually a noun phrase. In the
examples given below, the first bold item is the antecedent and the second is
the anaphor referring to it.



An antecedent usually comes before its anaphor.
Occasionally it follows its anaphor.

An anaphor that precedes
its antecedent is sometimes called a cataphor.
It is possible for the antecedent and its
anaphor to be in different sentences.

It is possible for an antecedent to be a verb
phrase, an adjective phrase or a prepositional phrase.


– in the
room)
The antecedent can also be a complete sentence.

