What is an antecedent?

1. Vague Pronoun Reference: Unexpressed Antecedents and Ambiguous and Implied ReferencesMini-Lesson #85 From the UWF Writing Lab’s Grammar Mini-Lessons Series

2. What is an antecedent? • In grammar, an antecedent is the word to which the pronoun refers. • A pronoun, then, depends for meaning upon a noun or another pronoun, the antecedent. • Every pronoun must have a conspicuous, openly stated antecedent, or the reader will be left without a clue as to your meaning. • Though he tried his best to twist and bend the key, he could not break it. • In the above sentence, “it” is the pronoun, and “key” is the antecedent to which “it” refers.

3. The Case of the Ambiguous Reference • Many problems can occur within the meaning of your sentence if the antecedent is vague. • The detective studied the manuscript with the aid of a magnifying glass; then he put it in his pocket. • Does “it” refer to the manuscript or to the magnifying glass? The reader is left to solve the mystery.

4. Unexpressed antecedent: In James Earl Jones's commencement address, he said, "May the force be with you.“ Correct: In his commencement address, James Earl Jones said, “May the force be with you.” Unexpressed antecedent: It states in today’s paper that that the weather will be warmer. Correct: Today’s paper states that the weather will be warmer. Beware of unexpressed antecedents!

5. Implied Reference • Also, the antecedent should be clearly stated and not merely implied. • My father wants me to become a medical professional, but I’m not interested in it. • In the above example, the reader can try to deduce, but will never completely know, the meaning of “it.” • Correct: My father wants me to become a medical professional, but I’m not interested in medicine.

6. Wanted: Vague Reference • The antecedent must be a single noun, not an entire sentence or idea. • When a writer attempts to use a single pronoun such as who, which, or that to refer to an idea or a sentence, the result is a vague reference. • I am not doing well in my new office position, which my supervisor doesn’t understand. • The pronoun which is considered to be a vague reference because the pronoun which doesn’t refer to the noun position, but to the entire sentence: that I am not doing well in my office position.

7. Solving the Mystery of the Vague Reference • There are several ways to correct a vague reference; reword the sentence or insert a word or phrase before the “which” to determine to what “which” refers. • Correction: • I am not doing well in my new office position, a situation [or fact] which my supervisor doesn’t understand. • My supervisor doesn’t understand why I am not doing well in my new office position.

8. More Rules… • Avoid vague use of this or that. • The town voted to eliminate school crossing guards; this brought the parents out in protest. • Avoid vague use of it. • In the newspaper, it says that gasoline prices will rise again next week. • Avoid indefinite use of they. -They told me at the registrar’s office that I needed sixteen more credits to graduate.

9. More Rules… • Make sure your pronoun has only one antecedent. - When Mike saw that the dogs had knocked down two elderly people, he ran toward them. Does them refer to dogs or elderly people? • Hattie never wrote her sister when she was away in college. Who is she?

10. You be the detective! • A recent editorial contained an attack on the medical profession; the writer accused them of charging excessively high fees. • Six or seven bearskin rugs decorated the room of the house, and Watson claimed to have killed them. • After being depressed for two weeks, the criminal decided to get over it and resume his routine. • Holmes learned that the partnership between Katz and Orenstein dissolved when he retired.

11. You be the detective! • A recent editorial contained an attack on attack on the medical profession; the writer accused medical professionals of charging excessively high fees. • After being depressed for two weeks, the criminal decided to get over his depression and resume his routine. • Holmes learned that the partnership between Katz and Orenstein dissolved when Katz retired.

12. You be the detective! • Six or seven bearskin rugs decorated the room of the house, and Watson claimed to have killed them. • As they nervously filed into the auditorium, the teachers smiled at the graduates. • Holmes advised her not to buy stock in the gold mine, which she ignored.

13. Case Solved! • Six or seven bearskin rugs decorated the room of the house, and Watson claimed to have killed the bears. • As the teachers nervously filed into the auditorium, they smiled at the graduates. • Holmes advised her not to buy stock in the gold mine, advice she ignored.