Re: Postpositions in English?

sanlosinst@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Consider this sentence:

(1a) There is a junction in three miles.

I think the word _in_ in 1a would be analysed as a preposition,
constituting the head of a prepositional phrase _in three miles_.

I wouldn't use "in" like this, but that doesn't affect your argument, since you could have written "There will be a break in three minutes".


(1b) There is a junction three miles ahead.

It seems to me that _ahead_ in 1b has the same position in the
branching structure of the sentence as _in_ in 1a: it governs the NP
_three miles_ to form a phrase _three miles ahead_ of which _ahead_ is
the head word. The only difference between the use of _in_ in 1a and
_ahead_ in 1b is in the syntax: _in_ precedes the NP it governs, and
_ahead_ follows it.

No. "Ahead" has the same function as it has in "There is a junction ahead." The implication is "ahead *of here*". "Three miles" modifies "ahead".

If this analysis is correct, then I don't see how to escape the
conclusion that _ahead_ is a postposition.

2b and 3a are also examples of things that seem like postpositions by
the same logic.

(2a) There will be a board meeting in ten days.
(2b) There was a board meeting ten days ago.

(3a) I looked up and saw the clouds miles above.


They're adverbs. "Ago" is unusual because it can't be used without a measure of time, but still, it means "earlier" or "before". "Above" implies "above *me*".
.

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