A developmental asymmetry between the singular and plural

Semantic theories of the plural aim to capture the observation that plural morphology is often associated with a ‘more than one’ meaning; (1a), for example, usually conveys (1b). This multiplicity inference typically disappears in downward-entailing environments; (2a) is not equivalent to the negation of (1b), but rather is interpreted along the lines of (2b). (1) a. Elliott read books.b. Elliott read more than one book. (2) a. Elliott didn’t read books. b. Elliott didn’t read a (single) book.