A unified existential semantics for bare conditionals

Abstract

Bare conditionals show an unexpected quantificational variability contingent on whether they are embedded in an Upward Entailing context (universal import) or a Downward Entailing context (existential import). Contra Herburger (2015a, b)’s ambiguity theory, we argue in favor of a unified semantics for bare conditionals based on their behavior in VP ellipsis constructions and in non-monotonic contexts. We show that a similar pattern exists with Free Choice phenomena, and consequently suggest a parallel analysis to Fox (2007)’s treatment of such phenomena. We propose that bare conditionals have a basic existential semantics which is obligatorily strengthened into a universal meaning in UE contexts, while being preserved in DE contexts. Our claim that bare conditionals are underlyingly existential is further supported by Conditional Perfection data with bare and non-bare conditionals.