The adnominal complement, in the scope of syntax, is a type of indirect modifier that is directly related to the kernel by means of a preposition. This complement is also called the prepositional complement of the name.
For example, you have the following sentence: "a person I absolutely trust." In this sentence, the indeterminate article "one" is a direct modifier of the nucleus "person", while the phrase "of my absolute confidence" is its adnominal complement.
Due to its structure, it is a prepositional phrase (or prepositive phrase) generally introduced by the preposition “of” (although not exclusively), which always accompanies and complements the name. According to its function, it is a name that complements another name in a pospositive way and that always carries a preposition.
In addition to "from", other participating prepositions can be "for", "with", "without", "according to" and "to". It should be noted that the adnominal complement can modify noun nouns and adjective nouns. For example: "my dad's name" (modify the noun) and "tired of your lies" (modify the adjective).
characteristics
The adnominal complement can be a simple structure, such as a noun introduced by the preposition “de” (storybook). But it can also be made up of more complex phrases (phrases).
Thus, it can be the noun / adjective + preposition + verb in the infinitive structure. There are then phrases such as "yearning to live", "time to find happiness" or "happy to be among you".
Likewise, the following sequence can be given: noun / adjective + preposition + verb in the infinitive. Examples of this are the phrases: "book of what I know who" or "capable of God knows what"
While it is true that the adnominal nexus (introductory preposition) is generally “de”, the adnominal complement can be introduced by “para” (“hamburger bun”), “con” (“stylish quote”) and others.
In general, these complements of the name fulfill a specific function (they restrict the meaning of the word they accompany). However, sometimes they have an explanatory function (they highlight one of their characteristics).
The presence or absence of commas denotes this difference: "The man in a dark suit (…)" (no other, specific function) and "the man, in a dark suit, (…)" (not necessarily the only one, explanatory function).
Also, an adnominal complement can be cumulative; that is, the same nucleus can have several. Such is the case of the phrase: "desire to survive, to fight, to love."
Examples
Next, several extracts will be analyzed where the use of adnominal supplements can be seen.
All these fragments belong to the work Dialogues: Critón, Fedón, el banquete, Parménides, by Plato (with a foreword by Luis Alberto de Cuenca, 1984)
Excerpt 1
"… divorcing himself from the religious constitution of Athens, (Socrates) remakes himself and becomes in this dialogue, for a kind of compensation, an inflexible citizen in obedience to the laws of the republic (…)".
In this first fragment the nominal phrase "the religious constitution of Athens" contains the elements article ("the") + nucleus ("constitution") + adjective ("religious") + adnominal complement.
In this particular case, although the adnominal complement is next to an adjective noun, this is not its nucleus. This is evident when comparing: "the constitution of Athens" and "religious of Athens" (would change the meaning).
In contrast, the adnominal complement "in obedience to the laws of the republic" is modifying the adjective noun ("inflexible") and not the noun noun ("citizen").
We can compare both forms: "inflexible in obedience to the laws of the republic" and "citizen in obedience to the laws of the republic"; the phrase loses its meaning. So, its structure is: nucleus (adjective: «flexible») + adnominal complement.
Within that same adnominal phrase, complementing the nucleus "obedience", there is another adnominal complement: "to the laws of the republic", and within that is "of the republic", which complements "laws".
Finally, in the phrase "a kind of compensation", the structure is simple: article ("one") + nucleus ("species") + adnominal complement.
Extract 2
“… The weakness of motives from which, in critical circumstances, the accommodating honesty of the vulgar is commonly inspired.
So Socrates understood it. To the laments of Crito, because of dishonor and despair (…) ”.
In the first case, the noun phrase has the structure: article ("the") + nucleus ("weakness") + adnominal complement. However, due to the recursion of the language, other adnominal complements can be seen in the adnominal structure.
Thus, there are "the reasons that are commonly inspired, in critical circumstances, the accommodating probity of the vulgar." Its structure is: article ("the") + nucleus ("motives") + adnominal complement.
Note that the complement of the preposition "of" is a relative clause introduced by "that". In that clause there is another phrase with an adnominal complement: "the accommodating probity of the vulgar" (contraction of + el).
On the other hand, the phrases "Crito's laments" and "reason for dishonor and despair" have the form: article + nucleus + adnominal complements and nucleus + adnominal complement + conj + adnominal complement, respectively.
As can be seen, in the latter case there are two adnominal complements in coordination. This is equivalent to saying: "reason for dishonor" and "reason for despair."
Excerpt 3
"… Because it is necessary to resolve in all cases, not for reasons of friendship, interest, opinion, but for reasons of justice."
In this fragment, the succession of several adnominal complements that share the same nucleus can be observed. The structure of all these complements is: nucleus (reasons) + adnominal complement (friendship, interest, opinion, justice).
Extract 4
"… it really seems to me that you have taken the path of the most indolent of men, when you should take that of a man of heart (…)".
In this extract the recursion phenomenon (possibility of repeating a structure indefinitely) reappears.
Thus, the structure of the phrase "the path of the most indolent of men" is: article ("the") + nucleus ("path") + adnominal complement.
Within the adnominal complement there is: article ("the") + adjective ("more") + nucleus ("indolent") + adnominal complement.
On the other hand, in the phrase "that of a man with a heart" the nucleus is elided (omitted). Its structure is: article ("the") + elided nucleus ("path") + adniminal complement. On the other hand, in "man of heart" we have: nucleus (man) + adnominal complement.
References
- Chavarría Paredes, EA (2002). Reading Handbook. Mexico DF: Editorial Limusa.
- Navarro Lacoba, R. (2014). Syntax in Spanish language. Navarro Lacoba: E-book.
- Benito Mozas, B. (1994). Syntax exercises. Theory and practice. Madrid: Edaf.
- Lope Blanch, JM (2005). Questions of Spanish Philology. Mexico DF: UNAM.
- Benito Lobo, JA (1992). The score: uses and functions. Madrid: Editorial Edinumen.