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zero subject

[/ˈzɪroʊ ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/]
nounpl: zero subjects
sujeito nulo
1. A grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence is implied but not explicitly stated, common in pro-drop languages
In Spanish, 'Habla español' (speaks Spanish) is a zero subject sentence where the subject pronoun is omitted.
Em português, 'Fala português' é uma sentença com sujeito nulo onde o pronome pessoal é omitido.
2. A linguistic phenomenon where the subject noun phrase is absent from the surface structure but recoverable from context
Portuguese allows zero subjects: 'Vou ao mercado' (I go to the market) without explicitly stating 'eu'
O português permite sujeitos nulos: 'Vou ao mercado' sem expressar explicitamente 'eu'
Synonyms
null subjectpro-dropempty subjectomitted subject
Antonyms
overt subjectexplicit subject

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
sujeito nulo
Standard term used in Brazilian Portuguese linguistics
São Paulo
sujeito nulo
Common in academic and linguistic contexts
Portugal
sujeito nulo
Standard linguistic terminology in European Portuguese
General English
zero subject
Primary term in English linguistic studies

Related Idioms & Phrases

pro-drop language
null subject parameter
subject ellipsis
anaphoric zero
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