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Case Theory and Norwegian Impersonal Constructions: Subjects-Object Alternations in Active and Passive Verbs*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2008

Arild Hestvik
Arild Hestvik
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Linguistics and Cognitive Science Program, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254, USA.
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Abstract

It is proposed that nominative and accusative Case are both assigned by structural positions at surface structure. From this it follows that Case-absorption is not and cannot be part of the definition of passive. It is shown that a definition of passive without Case-absorption captures the data of personal and impersonal passives in Norwegian with minimal machinery. It also accounts for Case-assignment in impersonal constructions with active verbs without any additional statements. The difference between English and Norwegian with respect to the “forced movement” in English passive is accounted for by appealing to a difference between the two languages in their permissibility of expletive subjects.

Type
Research Article
Information
Nordic Journal of Linguistics , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , June 1986 , pp. 181 - 197
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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