Many scholars have devoted attention to the research of this problem and formed many different theories, among which there are Langendoen & Savin s cumulative hypothesis, Karttunen s plug-hole-filter theory, Karttunen & Peters compositional account, Gazdar s canceling mechanism,etc.
语言学家们从语义和语用方面对其进行了不懈研究,形成了多种解释理论,其中具有代表性的理论有Langendoen和Savin的简单相加理论、Karttunen的塞子—漏洞—筛子理论、Karttunen和Peters的含义组合说以及Gazdar的含义取消机制等,但至今没有哪一种理论被公认为最具全面性。