Some features of sentential arguments in Russian.


2012. №5, 57-87

Abstract:

In the article, I analyze the syntactic behaviour of sentential arguments in Russian. Three types of sentential arguments are considered: those with the infinitival form of the verb, with the marker čto and with the marker to, čto. The principal aim of my analysis is to find out to which extent the behaviour of sentential arguments corresponds to the canonical behaviour of subject, direct object and some other types of arguments in Russian. I conclude that the types of sentential arguments under analysis differ strongly from canonical (nominal) arguments. For instance, the use sentential arguments with deverbal nouns is restricted, and the way of forming the passive construction differs from the standard one. Importantly, the arguments introduced by to, čto behave differently from the other two types under analysis.