postposition: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “postposition” mean?
A grammatical element, similar to a preposition, that is placed after its complement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A grammatical element, similar to a preposition, that is placed after its complement.
In linguistics, a word or morpheme that expresses a spatial, temporal, or other relationship to a preceding noun, pronoun, or noun phrase. It can also refer to the act of placing something after something else.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both use it as a specialist linguistic term.
Connotations
Neutral, academic, descriptive. Associated with the study of language typology.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to linguistic discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “postposition” in a Sentence
[Language] has postpositions.The word 'ago' is a postposition in English.Postpositions govern the [case].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “postposition” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The postpositional phrase was analysed.
- They studied postpositional languages like Japanese.
American English
- The postpositional element follows the noun.
- Hindi is a well-known postpositional language.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in linguistics, especially typology and syntax.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be considered a highly technical term.
Technical
Standard term in grammatical description and linguistic typology.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “postposition”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “postposition”
- Using 'postposition' to refer to any preposition (incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'preposition' and using the terms interchangeably.
- Attempting to use it in everyday conversation where 'preposition' or 'word after' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are both types of 'adpositions'. A preposition comes before its complement (e.g., in the house), while a postposition comes after it (e.g., three years ago).
Yes, but very few and they are often debated. Words like 'ago' (three years ago) and 'notwithstanding' (the ruling notwithstanding) are considered postpositions by some grammarians. English is overwhelmingly a prepositional language.
Many languages are primarily postpositional, including Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Hindi, Urdu, and Basque. For example, in Japanese, 'ni' indicates location and follows the noun: 'Tōkyō ni' (in Tokyo).
Almost exclusively in an academic context, particularly when studying, teaching, or discussing linguistics, grammar, or the structure of foreign languages. It is not a term for general English communication.
A grammatical element, similar to a preposition, that is placed after its complement.
Postposition is usually technical / academic in register.
Postposition: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpəʊstpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpoʊstpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'POST-it note POSITION' - a postposition is a word you stick on *after* (post) a noun to show its position or role.
Conceptual Metaphor
GRAMMAR IS ARCHITECTURE / PLACEMENT (A postposition is a grammatical building block placed after its foundation word.)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the term 'postposition' correctly?