THE NULL PRO SUBJECT IN EARLY MODERN ENGLISH AND STANDARD ARABIC

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore the syntax of the null pro subject in Early Modern English, Standard Arabic and Modern Standard English and point out how the pro-drop parameter works in these three languages. Following Chomsky’s (1995) minimalist analysis, we show how the nominative Case and agreement features of the (pro) subject are licensed and how the tense features of the verb are checked in Early Modern English and Standard Arabic. Furthermore, we present an alternative analysis which accounts for the  occurrence of the null pro in finite clauses of Standard Arabic. Given this, I argue that the subject pro moves from the VP-internal position to the thematic and structural subject position of the sentence occupying [Spec, IP] for feature licensing purposes.