ИСТИНА

This paper discusses the syntax of Russian expletive elements to, eto. I focus on constructions with a non-agreeing nominal predicative subcategorizing for a dative subject (Dative-Predicative-Structures, DPS) and a sententional argument - bare that-clause (čto P-clause) or headed that-clause (to, čto P-clause), cf. Mne stydno, [čto P] ‘I am ashamed <by the fact > that P’, mne jasno, [čto P] ‘It is clear to me that P’, mne protivno, [čto P] ‘it is disgusting to me that P’.I argue that to and eto have different syntax. Expletive unstressed eto is a matrix clause element. It alternates in the subject position with dative subjects and with čto P clauses, does not form a constituent with the CP it antecedes. It has a propensity to fronting and often takes distant position to the CP. Expletive unstressed to belongs to the complement clause, forms a constituent with the CP and cannot be separated from it. It does not alternate with dative subjects and does not require fronting.