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Glite Dictionary
👶 Before speaking ⬅️ Before the verb
preverbal

preverbal

1 7.8
Placed before the verb in a sentence
  • adjective
  • /ˌpriːˈvɜːrbl/
  • Specialized
: preverbal
  • A preverbal element in the sentence can clarify who is performing the action.

Examples

  • Using a preverbal modifier can change the focus of the sentence.

  • The NP of IV is in preverbal subject position.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Jane Burns has noted, in regard to Aquinas's discussion of the book, that "there is an essential distinction to be made between the preverbal existence of God and a linguistic system that necessarily involves mediation."

    Academic text (1996)

  • The structure of each myth contains a heritage of preverbal and oral communications, messages of the first incised signs, symbols and written words, cult traditions, religion, philosophy, and codes of interpersonal relations and behavior among the sexes.

    Academic text (2000)

  • In some languages, the subject can be placed in a preverbal position to emphasize it.

Synonyms

preposed
vspreverbal
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A word that comes before another word in a sentence, for example an adjective before a noun

is used only when positioned before the verb

Surface Forms

preverbal positive

Morphology

preverbal = verbal (semi-transparent) = pre + verb + al

The prefix 'pre-' is clear, but this sense depends on the specialized grammatical meaning of 'verbal' as 'relating to a verb'.

Etymology

Preverbal comes from the prefix pre- meaning 'before' and the root verb meaning 'action word', so it literally means 'before the verb'. That's why we use preverbal to talk about words or parts placed before the verb in a sentence.