Compositional analysis for clausal exceptives

Abstract

In this paper I argue that English exceptive constructions introduced by 'except' that appear to have a phrasal structure can be underliyingly clausal. I offer a compositional analysis for such exceptive constructions. I propose that an except- clause introduces quantification over possible situations and serves as a restrictor of this quantification. I show how this analysis derives the inferences exceptives come with and the known restrictions on their use.