• Dutch
  • Frisian
  • Saterfrisian
  • Afrikaans
Show all
Negative NP
quickinfo

If the prepositional complement of an adjective contains a negative NP, the PP may occur to the right of the adjective, as in the example below:

1
Hy is bewus van niks anders nie.
he be.PRS aware of nothing else PTCL.NEG
He is aware of nothing else.

However, in the vast majority of cases, the PP is placed to the left of the adjective:

2
Dié man was ook met niks tevrede nie.
this man be.PRT also with nothing satisfied PTCL.NEG
This man was never satisfied with anything.
readmore

Normally, if a negative NP occurs in the prepositional complement of an adjective, the PP is placed to the left as in the examples below:

3
hoewel ek van niemand afhanklik is nie
although I from nobody dependent be.PRS PTCL.NEG
although I am dependent on nobody
4
Hy is van niks meer seker nie.
he be.PRS of nothing any more certain PTCL.NEG
He is certain of nothing any more.

In exceptional cases, however, right placement is possible, as in example (1) above, and in this sentence:

5
Almal is lief vir Dawid, maar Dawid is lief vir niemand nie.
everybody be.PRS fond of ('for') Dawid, but Dawid be.PRS fond for nobody PTCL.NEG
Everybody loves David, but David loves nobody.

In the light of the distinction between the negation of the adjective (which seems to be more predominant in Afrikaans) and that of the NP, it will be more acceptable to formulate a sentence as below:

6
Die inheemse grasse is nie bestand teen die weiding nie.
the indigenous grasses be.PRS not resistant against the grazing PTCL.NEG
The indigenous grasses are not resistant to the grazing.

than to apply end-stress and put it as follows:

7
?Die inheemse grasse is teen die weiding nie bestand nie.
?the indigenous grasses be.PRS against the grazing not resistant PTCL.NEG
The indigenous grasses are not resistant to the grazing.
References
    printreport errorcite