Implicit Subjects

The Estonian des-construction is used as both an implicit-subject and an explicit-subject converb. This article concentrates on the subjects of both and also compares them. In the case of implicit-subject converbs, it is argued that not only the (semantic) subject of the superordinate clause can control the implicit subject of the des-converb, but also the most salient participant (which can sometimes even be the undergoer) of the superordinate clause. The article also discusses under which conditions the undergoer of the superordinate clause can control the implicit subject of the converb. In the case of explicit-subject converbs it is demonstrated which subjects tend to be explicitly present in the des-converb and which are the main properties of the structure and usage of explicit-subject des-converbs.