What are the attributive postpositions in English?

1. Adjectives serve as postpositional attributives of compound indefinite pronouns

When the modified word is the compound indefinite pronoun something, anything, nothing, everything; somebody, anybody, nobody, everybody; someone , anyone, everyone, no one, the modifier is often placed after the indefinite pronoun being modified.

（1） Do you have anything else to say about it?

Do you have anything else to say about this matter?

(2) I have something important to tell you.

I have something important to tell you.

(3) Someone important will give the students a lecture on how to learn English well.

This afternoon, an important person will give the students a lecture on how to learn English well. Report in English.

2. Adjectives used as post-positioned attributives of interrogative words

When modifying interrogative words what, which, who, whose, whom, when, where, why, how, the modifier must follow Set.

（1） What important would you like to talk about?

What is something important you want to talk about?

(2) What else would you like to eat? What else do you want to eat?

(3) Where new have they decided to visit?

What places have they decided to visit that they have never been before?

3. Enough is used as a postpositional attributive

enough (a.) can be used before or after the noun when modifying a noun.

(1) We have not enough time (time enough) to do the job.

We have not enough time to do the job.

(2) They have enough people (people enough) to do the experiment.

They have enough people to do the experiment.

But when enough (adv.) modifies an adjective or adverb, it must be placed after the modified adjective or adverb. For example: good enough, big enough, fast enough, carefully enough.

4. Prepositional phrases as postpositioned attributives

the map on the wall The map on the wall

The bird in the tree The little bird on the tree

the development of China

the way to the school

the life in the future

5. The infinitive of the verb is used as a postpositional attributive

1. In some noun structures, the infinitive of the verb can be used as a postpositional attributive.

（1） He has lots of things to do. He has many things to do.

(2) Jack needed someone to carry the box.

Jack needed someone to carry the box.

(3) She always the first one to arrive at the school.

She is always the first one to arrive at the school.

(4) There are a lot of things to do. There are many things to do.

2. The infinitive of the verb can be used as an attributive after some nouns.

For example: ability, decision, chance, courage, right, determination, promise, ambition, drive, effort, eagerness, failure, movement, need, opportunity, plan, reason, struggle, time, way, wish ,etc.

(1) I don’t have the courage to tell you the truth.

I don’t have the courage to tell you the truth.

(2) Does he have the ability to do the work?

Is he capable of doing this job?

(3) You have no right to do such a thing!

You have no right to do such a thing!

(4) ?I’ll show you my determination to stop smoking.

I will show you my determination to stop smoking.

6. Participle phrases serve as postpositional attributives

1. Present participle phrases serve as postpositional attributives.

（1） There is a dog lying on the ground.

There is a puppy lying on the ground.

（2） The girl sitting by my side is my sister.

The girl sitting by my side is my sister.

（3） Here is a map showing you how to get to the railway station.

Here is a map showing you how to get to the railway station.

Here is a map showing you how to get to the railway station.

2. Past participle phrases serve as postpositional attributives.

（1） This is a film directed by Feng Xiaogang.

This is a film directed by Feng Xiaogang.

(2) She is a nurse trained by ourselves.

She is a nurse trained by ourselves.

(3) What is the language spoken in Spain?

What language is used in Spain?

3. Some past participles can also be used as postpositional attributives.

For example: left, gained, used, offered, discussed, ordered, wounded, injured, concerned, conducted, done, held, arranged, planned, suggested, finished, completed, arrested, given, fallen, constructed , missed, etc.

（1）Is there anybody injured? Is anyone injured?

(2) The money left is not enough for so many people to live through.

The money left is not enough for so many people to live through.

(3) She liked all the courses offered.

She liked all the courses offered.

(4) The experience gained will be of great value to us.

The experience gained will be of great value to us.

7. Attributive clauses used as postpositioned attributives

1. The composition of attributive clauses used as postpositioned attributives is:

Antecedent Relative pronoun/adverb clause. Relative words that guide attributive clauses include relative pronouns and relative adverbs. Relative pronouns include: that, which, whose, who, whom, as, etc. Relative adverbs include: when, where, why, etc. Relative pronouns and relative adverbs serve as certain sentence components in attributive clauses (can serve as subject, object, slogan, etc.).

Note: Relative pronouns can generally be omitted when serving as the object of a verb in a clause.

(1) The student who answered the question was Jack.

The student who answered the question was Jack.

（2） The boy (whom) you are talking to is my brother.

The boy who is talking to you is my brother.

2. The selection of relative pronouns is more complicated and is subject to the following conditions:

① It depends on whether the antecedent refers to a person or an object.

People who take physical exercise live longer.

People who take physical exercise live longer.

② It depends on the syntactic function of the relative pronoun in the clause.

I still remember the day when/on which my brother joined the army. (adverbial)

I still remember the day when/on which my brother joined the army.

I still remember the days which/that we spent together. (as object)

I still remember the days which/that we spent together.

I’d like a room whose window looks out over the sea. (attribute)

I want a room whose window looks out over the sea.

Extended information

Sometimes, to do can also be used as a post-positioned attributive. For example: I have some homework to do.

I have some homework to do.

Note that if in the sentence to do, to do does not express the adverbial adverb or complement of purpose, then to do is likely to be the postpositional attributive

Baidu Encyclopedia - Postpositioned attributive