Jaume Solà i Pujols - Departament de Filologia Catalana ...

3. Summary
In this chapter we have extended our theory in Chapter 3 to infinitival constructions. In
fact our theory on the [±anaphoric] status of I-subjects forced us to make some assumptions on
the existence and status of AGR in non-finite clauses. Although this extension from finite to non-
finite is far from being trivial (and could possibly be implemented in other ways), I think it is has
some plausibility in that it accounts for a range of facts that are thus far poorly understood: long
infinitival verb movement in many NSLs and the existence of neutral pronominal/anaphoric
forms in NSLs not having infinitival long V-movement; and it provides a reasonable alternative
account to Kayne's (1991) theory concerning clitics and PRO, avoiding the problems we noticed
for this proposal.
Our treatment of Infinitives with an Overt Subject (IOS) is only tentative. The literature
on the issue is fragmentary and far less developed than that devoted to other types of infinitives. I
think the reason for this is that Principles and Parameters (and all the research stream leading to
it since the 1960's) is, as far as infinitives are concerned, intrinsically feeble to account for IOS.
Most research on infinitives has ignored IOS, perhaps because English lacks it, and this fact has
possibly biased research trends. This is a typical situation in any empirical science, which is
rooted in the necessarily accidental component of research.
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