Abstract
In modal sentences, a free adjunct may be interpreted as though it were an if-clause. Examples are the adjuncts in (1a)–(4a), whose semantic similarity to the corresponding conditional clauses in (1b)–(4b) is at least intuitively apparent.
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1.
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a.
Wearing that new outfit, Bill would fool everyone.
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b.
If he wore that new outfit, Bill would fool everyone.
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a.
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2.
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a.
Standing on a chair, John can touch the ceiling.
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b.
If he stands on a chair, John can touch the ceiling.
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a.
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3.
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a.
Taken in the prescribed dosage, it must be very effective.
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b.
If it is taken in the prescribed dosage, it must be very effective.
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a.
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4.
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a.
In first gear, the truck might reach the top of that hill.
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b.
If it were in first gear, the truck might reach the top of that hill.
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a.
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© 1985 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
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Stump, G.T. (1985). Modality and the Interpretation of Free Adjuncts. In: The Semantic Variability of Absolute Constructions. Synthese Language Library, vol 25. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5277-5_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5277-5_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-277-1896-9
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