Three Readings of Frequency Adjectives in Polish

Ewelina Mokrosz

doi:10.18290/rh.2017.65.11-3

Ewelina Mokrosz The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Faculty of Humanities

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rh.2017.65.11-3

Keywords: frequency adjectives; adverbial reading; internal reading; generic reading

Abstract

In this paper the Author describes a group of frequency adjectives in Polish. Polish frequency adjectives may be divided with regard to different readings, namely an adverbial reading, an internal reading and a generic reading as well as a type of a modified noun. The three readings were analysed in English, e.g. by Stump (1981) and Gehrke and McNally (2013). The adverbial reading occurs with frequency adjectives modifying event nouns. In contrast to English, Polish frequency adjectives inducing an adverbial reading admit all sorts of determiners and allow coordination with a specific group of adjectives. Frequency adjectives giving rise to an internal reading require a participant noun. The group of frequency adjectives compatible with a generic reading turns out to be the most varied one.

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