Licensing and Interpretation of n-words in Comparative Clauses

Abstract

The available analysis of comparative constructions that intend to explain the possibility of NPIs to occur in than-clauses do not give a satisfactory account of the licensing and interpretation of N-words in such clauses. In this paper, I propose a different analysis of comparative constructions, which, contrary to previous analysis, does not assume any stipulation particular to such structures, such as some rule that reverses the scope relations between different elements. This is achieved by considering that the semantics of comparative constructions involves the consideration of three degrees. The proposed analysis explains naturally the presence and interpretation of N-words in than-clauses.