The syntax of superlative phrases in Romance

In this paper, prenominal and postnominal superlatives in Romance are argued not to differ as a result of NP-movement (or lack thereof) to cross the adjective, but to result from two different derivations. In prenominal superlatives, the adjective is attracted to a high scope position in the DP-area of numerals where it can’t be bypassed by the NP. In postnominal superlatives, the superlative starts out as a predicate (a maximalizing relative clause over degrees) and it ends up postnominal (as any other relative clause in Romance).

Published online: 21 August 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/rllt.16.11loc