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Fire1 Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

Can an adverb postmodify a noun phrase?

A. No one is https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sure whether this https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/plan will https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/work, but it's a https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/step forward.

B. This is a https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/big https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/step forward for https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/democracy.

In the sentence above, it seems like "forward"as an adverb grammatically modifies the noun phrase "a step" and "a big step" behind them.

1. Is it correct to analyze "forward" as an adverb modifying "a step" and "a big step"?

2. So, is it grammatically correct to use an adverb to postmodify a noun phrase?

3. Can the second part be seen as "It's a step that is forward" as well?

And could you give me some more examples as well?

  

Top answer

fire1 In the sentence above, it seems like "forward"as an adverb grammatically modifies the noun phrase "a step" and "a big step" behind them. An adverb cannot modify a noun. It is an adjective there.

— Anonymous

  • fire1 In the sentence above, it seems like "forward"as an adverb grammatically modifies the noun phrase "a step" and "a big step" behind them.
  • An adverb cannot modify a noun.
  • It is an adjective there.
  • But I hear what you hear, and it does have the ring of an adverb.
  • Isn't English funny?
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2 Answers
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fire1In the sentence above, it seems like "forward"as an adverb grammatically modifies the noun phrase "a step" and "a big step" behind them.

An adverb cannot modify a noun. It is an adjective there. But I hear what you hear, and it does have the ring of an adverb. Isn't English funny?

fire11. Is it correct to analyze "forward" a
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fire1 Can an adverb postmodify a noun phrase?

Yes. (But, by the way, postmodifiers of a head noun are actually part of the noun phrase.)

fire1more examples

This table here is the one you need to move.
The finance committee alone is responsible fo

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