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Preposition + neuter nominal adjective
quickinfo

The preposition yn in may combine with an adjective that has been converted to a neuter noun. An example is given below:

1
Harren reaksje hie hurd west, yn 't rare
their reaction had hard been in the extreme
Their reaction had been hard, in the extreme
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The preposition yn in may combine with an adjective that has been converted to a neuter noun. Adposition Phrases (PPs) never occur in attributive position, that is, before the noun. The adjectival PP is correspondingly found in predicative, supplementary and appositive constructions, but not in attributive constructions. In the example below, the PP is used in a construction of predication:

2
Dy predatoaren gean wol sa te kear ûnder ljippen en skriezen, it is yn it rare!
those predators go DcP so at ravage under lapwings and godwits it is in the strange
Those predators are creating extreme havoc among lapwings and godwits

In the examples below, the PP is used in a supplementary function:

3
a. Dêr waard yn it neaken oefene
there was in the nude practiced
People practiced in nude
b. Sawat yn it nochteren is er ôfset
practically in the sober is he left
He left, almost with an empty stomach
c. Sjong sa lûd as jim kinne, mar graach wat yn it fatsoenlike
sing as loud as you can but preferably a.little in the decent
Sing as loud as you can, but preferably a little decently

In the example below, the PP is used as an apposition to a construction of predication:

4
Harren reaksje hie hurd west, yn 't rare
their reaction had hard been in the extreme
Their reaction had been hard, in the extreme

It seems that the construction is not easily used in a plain adverbial function:

5
a. Hja sjonge lûd / moai
they sing loud beautiful
The sing loudly / beautifully
b. *Hja sjonge yn it lûde
they sing in the loudly
They sing very loud
c. *Hja sjonge yn it moaie
they sing in the beautiful
They sing very beautifully
extra
Literature

More details can be found in Hoekstra (1991).

References
  • Hoekstra, Jarich1991Yn't nochterenFriesch Dagblad13-07Taalsnipels 193
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