Think of it like this:
* Antecedent: The thing being talked about
* Pronoun: The word that stands in for the thing
Here's an example:
* Antecedent: The dog
* Pronoun: It
Sentence: The dog barked loudly. It scared the cat.
In this sentence, "dog" is the antecedent of the pronoun "it."
Here are some key points about antecedents:
* Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and gender: If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular. If the antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural.
* Pronouns should be clear: Avoid ambiguity by making sure it's clear what the pronoun refers to.
* Pronouns must be in the correct case: This means using the right form of the pronoun (nominative, objective, possessive) depending on its grammatical function in the sentence.
Understanding antecedents helps you write clearly and avoid confusing your reader.