PRO is the null subject in (some) sentences in Brazilian Portuguese

Abstract

This squib discusses some characteristics of null impersonals in Brazilian Portuguese (BP), a group of sentences with null subjects. We focus our discussion on modalized null impersonals in Brazilian Portuguese, in which a deontic modal is invariably present. Aqui pode estacionar? (literally ‘Here can park?) is an example of a modalized null impersonal. Throughout the text, we present the properties of modalized null impersonals and differentiate them from other sentences with null subjects in BP, including non-modalized
null impersonals. We ultimately show that the null subject in modalized null impersonals is PRO, given its resemblance to underexplored and subtle properties of this empty category, as discussed in Lebeaux (1988).