I was recently asked to explain pre- and post-modification.
Pre- and post-modification are terms used for words, phrases and clauses that add information to a noun. By adding these you create a noun phrase.
Premodification is where information is added before the noun, e.g determiners, adverbs, adjectives:
Post-modification is adding a phrase or relative clause (which is a type of subordinate clause) after the noun.
If we use the noun 'horse', we can, for example, add premodifiers:
the (determiner)
very (adverb)
beautiful (adjective)
and post-modifiers:
with the flowing mane (prepositional phrase)
or
which could gallop like the wind (relative clause because it starts with a relative pronoun - which - and includes a verb 'could gallop')
The very beautiful horse with the flowing mane...
The very beautiful horse which could gallop like the wind...
