Specificational subjects — a formal characterization and some consequences

Abstract

Abstract This paper provides a formal semantic characterization of specificational copular clauses using the theory of noun phrase interpretation developed by Partee (1987). It is argued that specificational clauses involve an unusual alignment of a predicative noun phrase with the subject position. This leads to the prediction that only noun phrases capable of denoting predicates can occur in this position. The prediction is tested against three groups of NPs. While the first two groups...