There is an extensive class of phrases with dependent relative components, consisting of a noun, an adjective and a postposition in the Mari language. Functional and semantic characteristics of postpositions create attributive relations with different shades between components of a phrase. Semantics of relative words allows distinguishing sub-groups denoting spatial and time meanings. The article is devoted to revealing phrases with dependent relative components. The aim of the article is to analyze verbal postpositional government in phrases used in the story “Nezer” by V. Partash.