Selected Papers from the Fourteenth International ... - STIBA Malang

2.3 Observations
On the post-finite misagreement phenomenon 129
Table 1. Frequency of singular and plural be with plural subjects in 15th century chronicles
Pre-finite plural subject Post-finite plural subject
VFin VFin VFin VFin
Source Date range3 pl sg T# pl sg T#
Jul. –1432 24 0 24 9 1 10
Bradf. –1440 20 0 20 20 1 21
Cleop. –1443 15 0 15 3 5 8
Bale –1450 8 0 8 12 1 13
Vitell. –1450 10 0 10 3 0 3
Lamb. 306 –1450 16 0 16 12 4 16
Greg. –1451 48 0 48 39 5 44
Gough 1451–1470 6 0 6 1 4 5
Lamb. 306 1451–1465 4 0 4 3 8 11
Vitell. 1451–1503 73 2 75 21 26 47
TOTAL 224 2 226 123 55 178
0.9% 30.9%
PFM occurs in three syntactic contexts. In one, a nominal subject may stand
between the finite and non-finite verb, as in the following examples:
(6) a. And ther whas many take of them. Cleop. 140 (1436)
b. This yere was dyverse of the castelles in the northe yolden a yene to Kynge
Edwarde. Lamb. 78 (c.1462)
c. And the said nyghte was secret meanes made vnto my lord Chambereyn.
Vitell. 214 (1497)
Since the subject is embraciated (i.e., enclosed) between the finite and non-finite
verbs, we shall refer to this as the ‘embraciated subject’ type.
Alternatively, the nominal subject may stand after the non-finite verb:
(7) a. And at that same distresse whas takyn all Lahire horsses, a vij corseryrs and
all his pages. Cleop. 140 (1436)
c. And anon ther was sent certayn aldermen and comynes for to …
Lamb. 73 (1460)
d. … before whom was arayned the fore named viij prisoners for lyf and deth.
Vitell. 228 (1499)
We shall borrow the expression ‘late subjects’ from Warner (2006) to refer to
this type.
3. Where no initial date is given, this is because the chronicle begins in ancient times.