On the position of subjects in Spanish

Abstract

In this paper I analyze the contrast between the pre and postverbal subject positions in Spanish under the guidelines proposed in The Minimalist Program (Chomsky 1995). I will claim that preverbal subjects are Clitic Left Dislocated constructions, i.e. base-generated adjuncts to the maximal inflectional projection coindexed with an empty pronominal in argument position. As a result, sentences with preverbal subjects and sentences with postverbal subjects will be analyzed as the result of different numerations. In the former case there is a pro element in the numeration that is absent in the latter. I will then propose that the positions of subjects in Spanish interrogative sentences and relative clauses can be accounted for if we assume that there is covert I-to-C movement in Spanish. Left-dislocated constituents block I-to-C movement and render preverbal subjects in interrogative constructions ungrammatical. Since this type of movement is not present in relative clauses the left-dislocated constituents (preverbal subjects, for instance) are ruled in. This hypothesis also predicts that Wh-elements that are base-generated need not be licensed by covert I-to-C and therefore will allow the presence of preverbal subjects.