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Glite Dictionary
postverbal

postverbal

1 8.2
A word or phrase that comes after the verb in a sentence
  • adjective
  • /ˌpoʊstˈvɜrbl/
  • Specialized
: postverbal
  • In some languages, the object appears as a postverbal element following the verb.

Examples

  • The teacher explained the concept of postverbal complements during the grammar lesson.

  • The sentence corresponds to an active sentence with the NP of IV and v in postverbal position.

    Academic text (2006)

  • There was only one instance of an omitted postverbal argument with the copula (the tree is -- -- -).

    Academic text (2012)

  • Decisions about required postverbal arguments were based on the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Usage (1999-2009).

    Academic text (2012)

  • In English, many adjectives are placed in a postverbal position after the verb.

Surface Forms

postverbal positive

Morphology

postverbal = verbal (semi-transparent) = post + verbal + verb

The parts 'post' (after) and 'verbal' (relating to verb/words) combine to mean 'after the verb', but 'verbal' can be ambiguous (spoken vs. relating to a verb) and the term is specialized in linguistics.

Etymology

Postverbal comes from the prefix post- meaning 'after' and verbal, from verb meaning 'action word', so it describes something that is 'after the verb' in a sentence.