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Preposition + NP
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The NP complement of a preposition may be:

  • A complex NP
  • A simplex NP

This distinction is based on the presence of only a noun, on the one hand (simplex NP), and elements which are added to the noun (complex NP), on the other.

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[+]Complex NP

A complex NP as complement of a preposition would minimally consist of a noun plus a determiner, which could be an article, as die the in this example:

1
op die plaas
on the farm

Such a noun phrase could be expanded to include both pre- and post-determiners, with conjunctions, for example, as in the complement (indicated in square brackets) of the preposition van of below:

2
die mens wat bevry is van [allerlei beperkende filosofiese en sosiale vooroordele]
the human.being that.REL freed be.PRS of all.kinds.of restrictive philosophical and social prejudices
the person who is free of all kinds of restrictive philosophical and social prejudices
VivA-KPO

Complex NPs could include fixed expressions without a determiner, such as op vrye voet on free foot at large (instead of *op die vrye voet on the free foot).

[+]Simplex NP

A simplex NP, on the other hand, consists of only a noun, in cases where a determiner could be used, as in the example below.

3
a. met nadruk
with emphasis
b. met (sterk) nadruk
with (strong) emphasis
A simplex NP is naturally the default in the case of pronouns. This is illustrated by the example below:
4
Ons het van hom gehoor.
we have.AUX from him hear.PST
We heard from him.
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