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The superlative complement Adposition Phrase (PP) is part of the superlative Adjective Phrase (AP). It can occur before the noun (and before the attributive adjective) in an attributive construction.

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The superlative complement is part of the superlative AP, as shown by the following sentences:

1
a. [De tûkste fan alle feinten] is Rintsje
the smartest of all young.men is Rintsje
Rintsje is the smartest of all young men
b. [It tûkst fan alle feinten] is Rintsje
the.NG smartest of all young.men is Rintsje
Rintsje is the smartest of all young men

The superlative complement can be left-adjacent to the adjective in an attributive construction (unlike the comparative complement):

2
De fan alle feinten fluchste reedrider is Rintsje
the.CG of all young.men fastest skater is Rintsje
Rintsje is the fastest skater of all young men

Now, PPs construed with a noun may never precede that noun:

3
a. De feint op it boartersplak
the boy in the playing.ground
The boy in the playground
b. *De op it boartersplak feint
the in the playing.ground boy
The boy in the playground

The superlative complement PP may occur before the noun because it is not directly construed with a noun, but with an adjective. This makes it surprising that the comparative complement may not occur before the noun:

4
*In as Doutsen tûkere faam
an than Doutsen smarter girl
A smarter girl than Doutsen

The only licit position for the comparative complement is to follow the Noun Phrase (NP):

5
a. In tûkere faam as Doutsen
an smarter girl than Doutsen
A smarter girl than Doutsen
b. In like tûke faam as Doutsen
an as smart girl than Doutsen
A girl as smart as Doutsen

Although the superlative complement is construed with the superlative adjective, it may also occur postnominally, just as the comparative complement:

6
De fluchste reedrider fan alle feinten is Rintsje
the.CG fastest skater of all young.men is Rintsje
Rintsje is the fastest skater of all young men

Normal PPs that are complement to an attributive adjective in the positive degree may not occur postnominally:

7
a. De [mei wiskunde ynnommen] taalkundige
the with mathematics favourably.disposed linguist
The highly pleased with mathematics linguist
b. *De [ynnommen] taalkundige mei wiskunde
the favourably.disposed linguist with mathematics
The highly pleased with mathematics linguist

It appears that PPs complementing adjectives in the positive degree cannot be treated on a par with the complement of the comparative and superlative head.

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