The structure of approximative numerals in German

Abstract

This paper argues that approximative numerals in German such as an die zwanzig ‘up to twenty’ are not numerals contained in a PP, as suggested by Corver & Zwarts (2006). Such numerals are compared with regular PPs and shown to never pattern with PPs. Rather, they pattern with numerals modified by an adverb like ungefähr zwanzig ‘approximately twenty.’ The words appearing before the numeral in approximative numerals such as an die ‘up to’ are hence adverbs, contrary to surface appearance. This result is further supported by the observation that in expressions like an die ‘up to’ neither the alleged preposition behaves like a preposition nor does the alleged definite determiner behave like a definite determiner.