An Empirical and Theoretical Study on the Demise of Null Expletive Subjects in the History of English

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This study investigated the causal relation among the demise of null subjects (pro), the loss of verb second (V2), and the decline of verbal inflectional morphology in the history of English under the theoretical framework of the minimalist program. It was demonstrated that the demise of pro was caused directly by the loss of V2 and indirectly by the decline of verbal inflection. I developed a theoretical model to account for the change in question and confirmed its validity by applying it to another diachronic change, the loss of non-nominative Experiencers of the psych-verb like.