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    Post-adjectival adjectival phrases with genoeg enough and circumadjectival sequences
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    Modifiers normally precede the adjective to which they apply. However, in certain constructions, modifiers follow, or surround, the relevant adjective. Such modifiers can be categorised as postadjectival and circumadjectival sequences, as discussed below:

    The postadjectival modifier
    genoegenough

    As is clear from the term, this modifier must occur after the adjective, as in this example:

    1
    klere wat lank genoeg is
    clothes that.REL long enough be.PRS
    clothes which are long enough

    Circumadjectival modifiers

    The construction so ... moontlike as ... as possible

    This phrase functions as a circumadjectival modifier, in which the adjective is embedded within the elements so as and moontlike possible, as in the example below:

    2
    so 'n groot moontlike orkes
    such a big possible.ATTR orchestra
    an orchestra as big as possible

    In addition to this construction, equatives and comparatives (including superlatives) also form part of the category of circumadjectival modifiers.

    Equatives normally contain the sequence so ... soos as ... as, for example:

    3
    dit is so goed soos nuut
    it be.PRS as good as new
    it is as good as new

    Comparatives are characterised by the morphological or periphrastic comparative of the adjective, followed by as than, as in these examples:

    4
    skoolhou is interessanter as kantoorwerk
    school.keeping be.PRS interesting.CMPR than office.work
    teaching is more interesting than office work
    5
    die mitologie is meer verstaanbaar as die werklikheid
    the mythology be.PRS more understandable than the reality
    mythology is more comprehensible than reality
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      The postadjectival modifier genoeg enough indicates sufficient degree (see Sufficient degree), and is used as follows:

      6
      Die aanbod klink aanloklik genoeg.
      the offer sound attractive enough
      The offer sounds attractive enough.

      As in the case of simplex adjectives, this construction may also be used adverbially:

      7
      Vreemd genoeg het hy vroeg opgedaag.
      strangely enough have.AUX he early arrived
      Strangely enough, he arrived early.
      8
      Hy het dit, vreemd genoeg, maklik reggekry.
      he have.AUX it strangely enough easily managed
      Strangely enough, he managed it easily.

      The circumadjectival modifier so ... moontlik as ... as possible consists of two heads, in contrast with genoeg enough, which is merely postadjectival. In both instances, the adjectival construction is used adverbially in most cases, although attributive (or predicative) use may occur, as in example (2):

      9
      Kom so gou moontlik!
      come as soon possible
      Come as soon as possible!

      It stands to reason that synonymous sequences could be employed in this category:

      10
      waar 'n kurator so spoedig doenlik aangestel moet word
      where a curator as speedily feasible appoint.PASS must be.AUX.PASS.PRS
      where a curator has to be appointed as speedily as practicable

      Adjectives used in equative and comparative (inclusive of superlative) constructions may also take the form of circumadjectival sequences as part of a prepositional phrase. An example:

      11
      in die sterks moontlike taal
      in the strong·SUPL possible language
      in the strongest possible language

      Although the construction cannot be used prenominally, it may be used as an adpositional phrase, as shown below:

      12
      iemand so vriendelik soos Chris
      someone as friendly as Chris
      13
      iemand vriendeliker as hy
      someone friendly·CMPR than him
      someone friendlier than him
      References
        About this article
        Author(s): Ernst Kotzé, Adri Breed
        Category: Afrikaans Syntax
        Keywords: modifierpostadjectivalcircumadjectival
        Version: 1.0, May 2020
        Version history:
        version editor(s) date remarks
        1.0 Ernst Kotzé, Adri Breed May 2020
        This is a beta version.
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