Quantifiers

The chapter focuses on those quantity words that combine with a nominal expression. It distinguishes three main classes: quantifiers proper, quantity adjectives, and semi-lexical quantity nouns. Quantifiers select a full nominal expression (DP) as their complement, which can be either definite or indefinite. Quantifiers like ‘all’ select a definite DP, which can appear separated from the quantifier in so-called ‘floating constructions’. Quantifiers like ‘some’ select an indefinite DP, which can be realised by the quantitative clitic en/ne in Catalan, French, and Italian and can occur with a partitive prepositional phrase. Quantity adjectives do not occur in floating or partitive constructions. Semi-lexical nouns require a determiner and combine with an indefinite DP in pseudo-partitive constructions.