The domain of impersonal constructions is highly complex and heterogeneous in
Hebrew as in other languages. It includes sentences that lack an overt constituent bearing
the properties of a referential and identifiable subject or that are altogether lacking in
canonical subject properties. The aim of the present chapter is to present an up-to-date
classification of the major impersonal and generalized or impersonalized constructions in
Modern, primarily spoken, Hebrew. To this end, the coding properties of such constructions
are analyzed, based on the typological characterization of Modern Hebrew (MH) as a non-subject-oriented and
non-configurational language characterized by synthetic inflectional morphology with marking
of person in finite verbs, so not requiring an expletive or ‘dummy’ subject. Functional
properties of impersonal and generalized constructions in MH are noted in relation to
pragmatic underpinnings of their patterning and use.
Article outline
1.Introduction
2.Relevant properties of MH
3.Hebrew empty-subject constructions
4.Classes of impersonals in MH
4.1Uncontrolled events: Meteorological and environmental assertions
4.2Constructions of existence and possession
4.3Internal impersonals in modal and evaluative function
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