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  • Is "Some Years Back" Grammatically Correct?
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    Is “Some Years Back” Grammatically Correct?

    Earlier today I came across a tweet that argued against the use of the word back in the phrase some years back. Tweeter Darlink (@NW6Rd) stated: “While standing on the platform some years back…” No. ‘ago’ ‘some years AGO’ #grammar I love adpositions, of which a postposition like back is a subcategory. As a closed, […] More

  • The Adpositional Phrase Head in English Grammar
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    The Adpositional Phrase Head in English Grammar

    Encompassing both prepositional phrase heads and postpositional phrase heads, adpositional phrase heads are words that function as the heads of adpositional phrases. An adpositional phrase consists of an adposition such as a preposition or postposition plus another word, phrase, or clause functioning as an adpositional complement. Two grammatical forms can perform the function of adpositional […] More

  • The Postpositional Phrase Head in English Grammar
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    The Postpositional Phrase Head in English Grammar

    Similar to prepositional phrase heads, postpositional phrase heads are words that function as the heads of postpositional phrases. A postpositional phrase consists of a postposition plus another word, phrase, or clause functioning as a postpositional complement. Only one grammatical form can perform the function of postpositional phrase head in the English language. The one grammatical […] More

  • The Postpositional Complement in English Grammar
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    The Postpositional Complement in English Grammar

    Postpositional complements are defined as the word, phrase, or clause that directly precedes the postposition and completes the meaning of the postpositional phrase. Postpositional complements are also called objects of postpositions and complements of postpositions. Only one grammatical form can function as the postpositional complement in English grammar: noun phrases. Postpositions are less common than […] More

  • Using Postpositional Phrases as Disjunct Adverbials
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    Using Postpositional Phrases as Disjunct Adverbials

    Traditional grammars notionally define adpositions as words that “link to other words, phrases, and clauses” and that “express spatial or temporal relations.” In addition to prepositions, the second type of adposition in the English language is the postposition. In contrast to prepositions that precede a prepositional complement, postpositions follow a postpositional complement. In grammar, a […] More

  • Using Postpositional Phrases as Adjunct Adverbials
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    Using Postpositional Phrases as Adjunct Adverbials

    Notional grammars define adpositions as words that “link to other words, phrases, and clauses” and that “express spatial or temporal relations.” In addition to prepositions, the second type of adposition in the English language is the postposition. In contrast to prepositions that precede a prepositional complement, postpositions follow a postpositional complement. In grammar, an adjunct […] More

  • Using Postpositions as Postpositional Phrase Heads
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    Using Postpositions as Postpositional Phrase Heads

    Adpositions are words that “link to other words, phrases, and clauses” and that “express spatial or temporal relations.” In addition to prepositions, the second type of adposition in the English language is the postposition. In contrast to prepositions that precede a prepositional complement, postpositions follow a postpositional complement. In grammar, a postpositional phrase head is […] More

  • The Adpositional Complement in English Grammar
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    The Adpositional Complement in English Grammar

    Adpositional complements are defined as the word, phrase, or clause that directly follows the adposition and completes the meaning of the adpositional phrase. Adpositional complements are also called objects of adpositions and complements of adpositions. Both prepositional complements and postpositional complements are subcategories of adpositional complements. Prepositional complements follow the preposition. Postpositional complements precede the […] More

  • Grammatical Functions of English Postpositions and Postpositional Phrases
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    Grammatical Functions of English Postpositions and Postpositional Phrases

    Although traditional grammars speak only of prepositions in the English language, the preposition belongs to the larger category of adposition. Adpositions are words that “link to other words, phrases, and clauses” and that “express spatial or temporal relations.” In addition to prepositions, adpositions in the English language also include postpositions. In contrast to prepositions that […] More

  • Using Prepositions as Prepositional Phrase Heads
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    Using Prepositions as Prepositional Phrase Heads

    Traditional grammars define prepositions as “words that indicate a relationship to another word.” Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition plus another word, phrase, or clause that functions as the prepositional complement. In grammar, a prepositional phrase head is the word that functions as the head of the prepositional phrase. Only prepositions can function as prepositional […] More

  • The Disjunct Adverbial in English Grammar
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    The Disjunct Adverbial in English Grammar

    Disjunct adverbials are words and phrases that provide additional information to frame an entire clause, which denotes the attitude of the speaker toward or judgment of the proposition such as truthfulness of manner of speaking. Three grammatical forms can perform the grammatical function of disjunct adverbial in the English language. The three grammatical forms that […] More

  • The Adjunct Adverbial in English Grammar
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    The Adjunct Adverbial in English Grammar

    Adjunct adverbials are words, phrases, and clauses that modify an entire clause by providing additional information about time, place, manner, condition, purpose, reason, result, and concession. Four grammatical forms can perform the grammatical function of adjunct adverbial in the English language. The five grammatical forms that can function as the adjunct adverbial are: Adverb phrase […] More