achtervoeglijk

Achtervoeglijk is a Dutch term used in linguistics to describe elements that are attached to a word or phrase at its tail end. It is most often encountered in the discussion of postnominal or after-head modifiers, i.e., structures that follow the noun they modify.

In Dutch grammar, achtervoeglijke bijstelling or postnominal modification refers to information that attaches to a noun after it, adding detail or specification. This contrasts with voorvoeglijke (pre-head) modifiers, which precede the noun. Achtervoeglijke bijstellingen can take the form of relative clauses introduced by betrekkelijk voornaamwoorden such as die, dat, wie, or wat, or they can be participial or other non-finite phrases that come after the noun. They can be restrictive (essential to identify the reference) or non-restrictive (additional information), with punctuation (often a comma) reflecting their status in a sentence.

Common examples include relative clauses following a noun: “De student die het examen maakte is geslaagd.” or “Het boek dat ik lees is spannend.” In both cases the relative clause appears after the noun, functioning as an appended modifier. Dutch grammar also recognizes other postnominal modifiers, such as participial phrases, which can follow a noun to describe a state or action related to it.

Etymology-wise, achtervoeglijk literally means “appendixed at the end,” from achter (behind) and voeglijk (adjoining). The term highlights a structural position rather than a particular word class, and it is used primarily in descriptive grammar and linguistic discussions of Dutch sentence structure. See also bijstelling, betrekkelijk voornaamwoord, relative clause.