What type of study is this?

September 10, 2025Open Access

On the category and morphosyntax of numerals

Key Points

The study identifies three numeral subcategories: ONE, Cardinals, and Indefinite Numerals.
Evident parallels emerge between the properties of ONE and lower classifier projections in clauses.
A bi-partite Classifier structure is proposed, linking low and high projections via an abstract preposition.
Numerical classifications exhibit variability depending on their position within the ClassP structure.

Abstract

Abstract This paper investigates the morphosyntax of numerals. Based on Russian and Dutch, we show that a division into three subcategories is necessary: (i) numeral ONE; 1 (ii) Cardinals ≥ TWO; (iii) Indefinite Numerals such as MANY (cf., Barbiers 2007 ). We introduce a bi-partite structure, in which a low Classifier projection is connected to a high Classifier projection by an (abstract) preposition. Building on Borer (2005) , Barbiers (2007) , Kayne (2019) , Corver (2021) we argue that ONE is an underspecified lower classifier, exhibiting meaningful parallels with the underspecified anchoring head at the clausal level (cf., Ritter & Wiltschko 2009 , 2014 ). Cardinals are phrasal. Indefinite Numerals are subject to variation in whether they head ClassP-low or ClassP-high. Based on the morphosyntactic properties of the three categories we conclude that in some environments the PP and ClassP-high layers are not projected.

Read Full Paperexternally

Bookmark

View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Morozova et al. (Fri,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/68c1d97154b1d3bfb60fab2d https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1075/lv.24047.mor

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

Bookmark

View Full Paper