The number sensitivity of modal indefinites

Abstract

In this study, I take up the interaction between modal flavor and the number morphology of existential wh-indefinites in Mandarin, a phenomenon first discussed in Lin (1998). I argue that there are three essential theoretical pieces to this interaction: (i) types of nominal reference (quantized vs. cumulative), (ii) degrees of modal variation (total vs. partial), and (iii) achieving modal variation by exhaustification. I show that while exhaustifying alternatives contributed by quantized wh-indefinites may give rise to either total or partial modal variation, exhaustifying alternatives contributed by cumulative wh-indefinites may only give rise to partial modal variation.