Introduction to Syntax Session 1

Expletives
Presentation Topic 4
(You have to have read the textbook up until Chapter 8 to complete this
task.)
Expletives or pleonastics are usually explained by the need of
sentences to feature subjects. It is hence predicted that they only
appear in subject position. However, there are sentences that seem
to suggest to the contrary.
I regretted it that he was late.
Here, the it seems superflous and is certainly not a necessary
argument to regret. It feels like an expletive.
Read Rothstein‘s paper about pleonastics and list the reasons for
and against treating it in object positions as in the example above
as expletives.
Present Rothstein‘s view and think about your own view.
27.05.2008 Some slides are adapted from material of A. Carnie 42