ExtPos/advmod for quantitative "at (the) least/most"

[nschneid]

Some instances of "at least" attaching as nmod to a det-dependent ("at least some...") are now triggering validator errors. See UniversalDependencies/docs#1059 (comment). We might as well change them all to specify ExtPos=ADV and attach as advmod rather than nmod.

• EWT https://universal.grew.fr/?custom=674f258c2bd32
• GUM https://universal.grew.fr/?custom=674f2652aeff6

Note: non-quantitative "at least" and "at most" are considered fixed expressions, so they are already taken care of.

[amir-zeldes]

We might as well change them all to specify ExtPos=ADV and attach as advmod rather than nmod.

Wouldn't that mean that we are starting to treat all "at least"s as fixed expressions?

[nschneid]

It would still be saying they are PPs internally, which I think is fair. Though TBH I don't understand the syntactic reason for distinguishing the quantitative and non-quantitative ones—isn't it just a matter of idiomatic meaning?

[amir-zeldes]

It would still be saying they are PPs internally

Wait, are you saying you want to keep obl+case for non quantitative "at least", but you want to put ExtPos=ADV on the head? I'm not sure that makes sense to me - obl dependents are already adverbial in the sense that any adverbial PP is, so I don't see what this adds. It makes more sense for the fixed version (with quantities).

[nschneid]

Right now it's the nonquantity ones that are fixed. Which I find confusing.

What about dispensing with fixed entirely:

at/case least/ADJ[ExtPos=ADV]/advmod 3 books

at/case least/ADJ[ExtPos=ADV]/advmod some homework

at/case least/ADJ/obl you are having fun

[amir-zeldes]

I agree it's confusing, and I'd be for making them all be the same. But I don't think we should have a compositional looking subtree with case and then use advmod + ExtPos. I'd do either or:

1. Keep obl + case, then it's just compositional and there's no need for advmod or ExtPos
2. Decide it's a special multi-word adverbial, then use fixed + advmod + ExtPos

I feel like mixing the two strategies is confusing.

[nschneid]

The problem is we can't do nmod+case for "at least some (books)", because the validator now prohibits it.

[amir-zeldes]

That suggests we should prefer fixed+advmod, which is fine by me, though I will note there are variants ("at the least" comes to mind, or "at the very least")