The free group does not have the finite cover property

Abstract

We prove that the first order theory of nonabelian free groups eliminates the "there exists infinitely many" quantifier (in eq). Equivalently, since the theory of nonabelian free groups is stable, it does not have the finite cover property. We also extend our results to torsion-free hyperbolic groups under some conditions.

arXiv comment23 pages, to appear in the Israel J. Math