Abstract

Abstract This chapter argues that null subjects in Brazilian Portuguese are quite different from null subjects in other Romance languages. Referential null subjects are permitted in matrix clauses if the verb is marked as first person singular; they do not occur in other contexts. Null subjects occur in embedded clauses with an inflected verb; however, these are not referential null subjects but rather control structures resulting from movement of the subject DP/NP. The loss of verbal inflection is correlated with changes in the properties of Brazilian Portuguese null subjects: reduced inflection prompts loss of referential null subjects.

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