Odd dummy subject markers

[Laurence Horn]

At 4:27 PM -0200 4/5/06, Charles Doyle wrote:
>Assuming the role, apparently, of spokesman for Southern
>intuitions (!), I'll confirm that sentences with Ron's quasi-
>dummy "it" do seem usually to include a "that" dependent
>clause, though "that" itself can have been deleted (so to
>speak).
>
>      "It said on the radio that showers are expected."
>
>      "It said on the radio showers are expected."
>
>     * "It said on the radio the prediction of showers."
>
>The dependant clause can be in the form of a direct
>quotation:
>
>      "It said on the radio, 'Showers are expected.'"
>
>      "It said on the radio, 'Expect showers.'"
>
>And the transformation of the clause into an infinitive
>phrase is possible:
>
>      "It said on the radio to expect showers."
>
>But that seems a little different (intuitively speaking).
>Could it occur in Northern Normal?
>
>--Charlie
>
For me, these are all fine (expect the one you starred).

Larry

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