This book investigates various aspects of the distribution of nominal arguments, and in particular the cross-linguistic variation that can be found among the Germanic languages in this domain of the syntax. The empirical topics discussed include variable vs. fixed argument order, the distribution of subjects with respect to adjuncts, expletive constructions, and oblique subjecthood. These are analyzed within a theoretical framework which is based on the Minimalist Program.

Inhalt

Acknowledgments. 1. Introduction. 2. Features, Categories and Checking, Towards Deriving the EPP and Abstract Case. 3. Syntactic Effects of Morphological Case. 4. Subjecthood and Agreement. 5. On Expletives. 6. Oblique Case and Subjecthood. Or: Why Icelandic is Different. 7. Conclusion. References. Language Index. Name Index. Subject Index.