Bare numerals (e.g. two) seem to be ambiguous between two
readings: the exactly and the at least reading. We present an
ERP study that explores this issue. We show that the pattern
of the ERPs elicited by critical nouns in sentences with unembedded
bare numerals depends on the participant’s choice
of the reading of the numeral. For those responders who consistently
apply the exactly reading in their truth-value judgement,
sentences that are true only under the at least reading
are associated with a sustained negativity effect compared to
sentences that are true also under the exactly reading. However,
no such effect is evident for the responders who apply
the at least interpretation. We argue that this result falsifies
the exactly-theory of numerals and speaks in favor of the ambiguity
account.