Predicative degree constructions in Spanish

Abstract

This article explores adjectival degree constructions formed around the copular element de ‘of’ in Spanish such as un montón de listo (a load of smart, ‘considerably smart’), como tú de gordo (like you of fat, ‘as fat as you’), and así de alto (this of tall, ‘this tall’.) In these constructions, a predication relation takes place between the degree to which the property denoted by the adjective is possessed (the subject) and the different expressions appearing to the left of the copular element de ‘of’ (the predicate). A subdivision is made between “identificative predicative degree constructions” (IPDCs) and “evaluative predicative degree constructions” (EPDCs). In the former, the predication is done by means of a comparative clause ({como tú/igual que tú} de gordo, like you of fat, ‘as fat as you’) or a deictic lexical unit (así de alto, this of tall, ‘this tall’). In the latter, the predicate is a nominal expression (un montón/mogollón/la tira/la hostia . . . } de listo, {loads/a load/the strip/the host . . . } of smart, ‘considerably smart’). This distinction is based on a number of contrasting properties that these two types of predicative degree constructions display with respect to evaluativity, combination with degree clauses introduced by para ‘for’, (in)felicity in definite environments, (in)compatibility with non-specific indefinite DPs, functioning as a nominal predicate, subject-predicate/predicate-subject word order alternations, and information structure. It is argued that the divergent semantic, pragmatic, and formal properties found in IPDCs and EPDCs come as a result of the different nature of the degree predicate involved in each type of construction and a dissimilar syntactic configuration of the predication relation (under the syntactic theory of predication in Den Dikken, Relators and linkers. The syntax of predication, predicate inversion, and copulas, MIT Press, 2006).