What he lied to me was antecedent to this event.

一般to组成的介词短语作状语吗？有些是固定搭配，如何很好区分这种情况？

解答如下

A be antecedent to B 表示A在B之前。

That was antecedent to this event.  

那是在这件事之前.

句子语法结构分析如下(1)

主语：What he lied to me (他向我撒谎的事情)

系动词：was (是)

表语：antecedent(在前的，在先的，先行的)

状语：to this event(到这个事）

句子语法结构分析如下(2)

主语：What he lied to me (他向我撒谎的事情)

系动词：was (是)

表语：antecedent to this event(在这个事之前）

A be antecedent to B 意思"A在B 之前”

be antecedent to 在...之前，看作为一个形容词短，后面为介词"to"

That was antecedent to this event.

那是在这件事之前。

That was antecedent to his resignation.

那是在他辞职之前。

The decision not to invite Joe was antecedent to his illness .

不邀请乔的决定是在他生病之前决定的。

Did you notice any sign antecedent to the accident?

这事故之前，你注意到什么迹象了吗?

Those were events antecedent to the revolution.

这些都是革命前的事了。

特别备注：可以把antecedent to+”名词“ 看作一个形容词短语，可以做句子表语，后置定语

(1)放在系动词后表语

That was antecedent to this event.

那是在这件事之前。

That was antecedent to his resignation.

那是在他辞职之前。

(2)放在名词后做后置定语

Did you notice any sign antecedent to the accident?

=Did you notice any sign which is antecedent to the accident?（定语从句作后置定语）

这事故之前，你注意到什么迹象了吗?

Those were events antecedent to the revolution.

=Those were events which were antecedent to the revolution.（定语从句作后置定语）

这些都是革命前的事了。