3.3.1. Subject clauses

A subject clause (or subjective) is a subordinate argument clause carrying the syntactic function of a subject (SYNTAX 2.2.1). Subject clauses (within brackets) can be: i) simple declarative clauses, with no special interpretation (e.g. โ€˜[That Gianni will come] should be clear to youโ€™), ii) relative clauses (SYNTAX 3.4) (e.g. โ€˜[Whoever has finished the exam] can go outโ€™), or iii) interrogative clauses (SYNTAX 1.2.3) (e.g. โ€˜[Whether I am coming or not] is uncertainโ€™). In the following, however, we will only treat simple declarative clauses, referring to the relevant sections for the other two types.

         In LIS, verbs that can take as an argument a subject clause include seem (a), be_astonishing (b), strange (c), and obligation (d).

           

 

 

                                                bl-f

         a.            gianni arrive seem

         โ€˜It seems that Gianni has arrived.โ€™

        

 

 

         b.            gianni work resign be_astonishing

         โ€˜It is surprising that Gianni has resigned.โ€™

 

 

 

         c.            gianni arrive strange

         โ€˜It is strange that Gianni has arrived.โ€™

 

 

 

         d.            gianni arrive obligation

         โ€˜It is compulsory for Gianni to come.โ€™