SUBJECT-VERB CONCORD IN EQUATIVE SENTENCES IN ENGLISH

This paper discusses subject assignment and subject‐verb concord in equative sentences, especially ‘pseudo‐clefts’ like What All we need are books and What All that remains to be settled are the prices. Plural concord in such cases is traditionally explained as due to the potential plurality of what or to the ‘attraction’ exerted by the postverbal NP which is routinely taken to be a predicative complement. According to the view defended in this study, the postverbal NP is the real subject and as such ‘attractive’ enough to override the otherwise very strong association between subjecthood and preverbal position. © 1990 Editorial Board