@article{Penka_2019, title={Almost There: The Meaning of almost}, volume={10}, url={https://ojs.ub.uni-konstanz.de/sub/index.php/sub/article/view/690}, DOI={10.18148/sub/2006.v10i2.690}, abstractNote={<p>Modifiability by <em>almost </em>has been used as a test for the quantificational force of a DP without stating the meaning of <em>almost </em>explicitly. The aim of this paper is to give a semantics for <em>almost </em>applying across categories and to evaluate the validity of the <em>almost </em>test as a diagnosis for universal quantifiers. It is argued that <em>almost </em>is similar to other cross-categorial modifiers such as <em>at least </em>or <em>exactly </em>in referring to alternatives ordered on a scale. I propose that <em>almost </em>evaluates alternatives in which the modified expression is replaced by a value close by on the corresponding Horn scale. It is shown that a semantics for <em>almost </em>that refers to scalar alternatives derives the correct truth conditions for <em>almost </em>and explains selectional restrictions. At the same time, taking the semantics of <em>almost </em>seriously invalidates the <em>al</em><em>most </em>test as a simple diagnosis for the nature of quantifiers.</p>}, number={2}, journal={Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung}, author={Penka, Doris}, year={2019}, month={Aug.}, pages={275–286} }