Spanish Null Complementizer as a PF-Prefix

Abstract

This paper aims to account for the distribution of the null complementizer(null C) in Spanish. Although the presence of the complementizer que is basically obligatory in this language, certain classes of verbs may allow the omission of que in complement position. However, this is not always the case when an overt lexical element appears preverbally. In addition, when complement clauses appear in non-canonical positions like topicalized position, the omission of que is also kisallowed. Thus, in this paper I try to provide an account of why que can be omitted in some environments and cannot in other environments. For this, I critically review Brovetto's(2002) analysis of the null C in Spanish. I further discuss whether some analyses are not satisfactory enough to deal with Spanish data. By modifying Boskovic & Lasnik's(2003) PF-Merger analysis, I propose that the Spanish null C is a PF-Prefix: it must attach to a verb on its right under adjacency. I show that many examples can be accommodated by this proposal. I further show that the obligatory subject-verb inversion in Spanish wh-questions receives a new account under my proposal.