A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

Null objects occur with all verb types in DGS. In (a), the object argument of the transitive plain verb like is dropped. In (b), the transitive plain verb repeat occurs with a null subject and object.

 

                                          hs

a.       ix_3a like not palm_up

         ‘He does not like (being surrounded by hearing people).’

 

                                                                                  (based on Oomen, 2020: 139)

 

 

b.      repeat

         ‘(The teacher) repeats (the topics.)

 

 

        

Null objects also occur with forward agreement verbs as in (a) and with backward agreement verbs as in (b). In both examples, subject and object arguments are omitted and both verbs are modified in order to mark agreement.

 

a.           _3ateach_3bpl++

         ‘(He) teaches (every of them).’

 

 

 

 

b.      christmas _3ainvite₁++

         ‘(My grandparents) invited (me) for Christmas.’