Definition

The use of a word, like a pronoun, that points to something mentioned later in a sentence.

Example

In the sentence 'Before he arrived, John was waiting', 'he' is an example of cataphora.

Conversation

Have you ever heard about the concept of cataphora?

Yeah, it’s when a pronoun refers to something mentioned later, right?

Exactly! It’s interesting how language works like that.

I know, it really shows how our brains process information in sentences.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cataphora is formed from "cata-" (from Greek "kata", meaning down or against) and "phora" (from Greek "pherein", meaning to carry or bear). The term refers to a linguistic phenomenon where a word or phrase refers to a later part of the text, essentially carrying the reference forward.

Memory Tip

Think of 'carrying down' ('cata-') a reference to something that comes later ('phora'). This helps you remember that cataphora is about referring to something that appears later in the text.

Visually Confused Words