Comparação E Modalidade

Abstract

The paper discusses some cases of ambiguity in comparative sentences with the presence of modal expressions. The presence of the modal seems to make reference to the predicate maximal or minimum degree. We show the current proposals, particularly Rullmann (1995), who adopts a syntactic explanation ;and Marques (2003) and Méier (2002), which derive the semantic representation assuming a negation in the logical form. We argue that the proposals lack independent empirical motivation and suggest that the two readings can be generated by the way the ordering source in its relation with the modal base are organized in the context. PALAVRAS-CHAVEAmbiguidade. Modalidade. Orações comparativas. Possibilidade.