Comparative vs. superlative quantifiers Superlative and comparative ...

Superlative vs. comparative Indefinites, numerals, and scales Comparative modifiers Superlative modifiers Experimental evidence
Examples (cont.)
[1] You may take at least three cakes.
a. — [no concord reading]
b. □∃x[3(x) ∧ cake(x) ∧ take(y, x)] ∧
⋄∃x[#x > 3 ∧ cake(x) ∧ take(y, x)]
[compositional]
[2] You must take at most three cakes.
a. — [no concord reading]
b. ⋄⊡∃x[3(x) ∧ cake(x) ∧ take(y, x)] ∧
¬⋄⊡∃x[#x > 3 ∧ cake(x) ∧ take(y, x)] [compositional]
Bart Geurts & Rick Nouwen: Comparative vs. superlative quantifiers
Superlative vs. comparative Indefinites, numerals, and scales Comparative modifiers Superlative modifiers Experimental evidence
Modal modifiers
If the modal analysis is correct, it makes sense that superlative
modifiers sometimes alternate with overt modals:
[1] Hij heeft voor zeker zes kranten gewerkt.
he has for certainly six newspapers worked
‘He has worked for at least six newspapers.’
[2] Hij heeft voor misschien drie kranten gewerkt.
he has for maybe three newspapers worked
‘He has worked for at most three newspapers.’
Bart Geurts & Rick Nouwen: Comparative vs. superlative quantifiers