Indefinites in Comparatives

Authors

  • Maria Daria Aloni University of Amsterdam
  • Floris Roelofsen University of Amsterdam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3765/salt.v21i0.2602

Keywords:

Indefinites, comparatives, intonational meaning

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to explain the meaning and distribution of indefinites in comparatives, focusing on the case of English 'some' and 'any' and German 'irgend'-indefinites. We combine three competing theories of comparatives with an alternative semantics of 'some' and 'any', and a novel account of stressed 'irgend'-indefinites. One of the resulting theories, based on Heim's (2006) analysis of comparatives, predicts all the relevant differences in quantificational force, and explains why free choice indefinites are licensed in comparatives.

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Published

2011-09-03

Issue

Section

Articles