Question

The noun to which a pronoun refers is called the ________ of the pronoun.

Answer 1

"In this example, the pronoun they has NO noun antecedent to which it can refer. Here is another example of a pronoun without any antecedent at all. In this example, the pronoun it has no antecedent to which it can refer." (Google)
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Answer 2

antecedent

Answer 3

In grammar, an antecedent is an expression (word, phrase, clause, etc.) that gives its meaning to a pro-form (pronoun, pro-verb, pro-adverb, etc.).