A method popular for fixing the scopes of arguments involves a covert movement operation, named QR (quantifier raising) by
May. May envisioned QR as a kind of adjunction
operation, attaching an argument so affected to a phrase dominating that argument. With the emergence of the Minimalist Program, the operation of adjunction is much suspected. The QR_oriented scope interpreting approaches are shown to be invalid, and instead, scopal forces are mainly the properties of LF A_movement. As to argument quantifiers or quantified NPs (Q_NPs), different scope properties are manifested by different Q_NPs. Further, Q_NPs are divided into two categories: Common Q_NPs and Marked Q_NPs. The latter bears the strong feature which must first be checked off at the Spec Q mP during the
derivation or the derivation crashes. Q mP sits in either Subj Z (subject zone) or Obj Z (object zone). Movement of Q_NPs from the Pred Z (predicate zone) to Subj Z or Obj Z forms A_movement, which in turn forms and determines the nature of A_chains. An A_chain consists of a pair of links that are realized in terms of A_positions a Q_NP experiences while undergoing movement. On the basis of that, the classic Scope Principle is revised to the Proper Scope Principle which stipulates that X may take scope over Y iff X c_commands Y or a link of each A_chain associated with Y at LF. The revised principle gives a comprehensive interpretation of Marked Q_NPs and derives the blocking effect of negation. Hence the disparate scope phenomena manifested by quantified_NPs get a unified account.