Maximize Presupposition and Two Types of Definite Competitors

Abstract

Heim 1991 suggests that this effect can be derived from a Maximize Presupposition constraint, which blocks the use of the indefinite determiner when the uniqueness presupposition associated with the definite determiner is satisfied. This line of explanation has proven to be fruitful in that it can be extended to a number of other constructions. Consider, for instance, (2) below. This sentence is odd when it is part of the common ground (GG) that Mary has exactly two students. On the Maximize Presupposition account, this is so because the speaker is required to use the presuppositional determiner both in these situations. Similarly, the sentence in (3) is infelicitous when we are taking for granted that Mary is dating Mark since, in those cases, the speaker should use the factive verb know.

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