Case in the Development of English Syntax

In addition to adultlike nominative subjects, accusative and genitive subjects can be observed in the speech of young English-speaking children. In this article, two stages involving such oblique subjects are isolated; the two stages are separated by a stage characterized by adultlike nominative subjects. The proposed analysis relies on gradual, nonmaturational development of phrase structure. The early oblique subject stage is clearly attested in Nina's data, who until the age of 2 used oblique subjects without Infl elements; after her second birthday, nominative subjects and Infl elements co-occurred. The late oblique subject stage is attested in all four children studied. At a point when nominative subjects were used elsewhere, oblique subjects resurfaced in wh-questions.