Quantifying over hidden (parts of) events

Abstract

In this paper, I investigate certain intriguing properties of two types of quantificational adjectives exemplified by the English two-time and double and their interactions with event semantics. I explore their semantic behavior in phrases such as two-time champion and double murder and show that they operate on hidden eventive components within the semantics of the modified NPs. Building on Zobel's (2017) analysis of social roles and Wągiel's (2018) theory of subatomic quantification, I propose an analysis that accounts for their puzzling properties. In particular, I argue that two-time counts events of acquiring of a salient and conventionalized social role by an individual, whereas double is a subatomic quantifier that counts essential parts of an event.