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The scope of even and quantifier raising

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Abstract

This paper addresses the question of whether the preverbal even (VP-even) embedded in a nonfinite clause can take wide scope (e.g., Bill refused to even drink WATER). The paper presents novel evidence for wide scope VP-even that is independent of the presuppositions of even. The evidence is based on examples of antecedent-contained deletion (ACD), where embedded VP-even associates with a nominal constituent (or part of it) that raises out of the embedded clause via quantifier raising. Assuming that even must c-command the focus that it associates with, the case at issue forces VP-even to have wide scope, and further shows that VP-even in NPI-licensing contexts is not necessarily an NPI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Ohtsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610, Japan

    Kimiko Nakanishi

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  1. Kimiko Nakanishi
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Correspondence to Kimiko Nakanishi.

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Nakanishi, K. The scope of even and quantifier raising. Nat Lang Semantics 20, 115–136 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11050-011-9077-7

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