On Accusative First*

This paper explores the source of case patterns in various monadic and dyadic unaccusative constructions in Russian and Ukrainian in light of the tension between what we call “Nominative First” and nominativeless “Accusative First” case assignment strategies. Nominative First states that if nominative is available it must be used; Accusative First is then the assignment of accusative regardless of whether there is a nominative. While these emerge in a natural way from top-down versus bottom-up systems, respectively, we show here that this tension can be resolved in a purely bottom-up fashion, by first assigning structural cases at the vP level, where accusative is the only possibility, and again later at the TP level, where nominative and accusative compete. The solution thus capitalizes on the lack of availability of nominative at the vP level. This is, however, only part of the story, since even within vP accusative is not always assigned. Our principal task is thus to identify the conditions that give rise to Accusative First syntax, that is, to the assignment of accusative case in the absence of a clausemate nominative (agentive) NP, thus apparently flouting Burzio’s Generalization. We do not propose an Accusative First parameter, but seek instead to explain apparently exceptional Accusative First patterns in an otherwise Nominative First language. We argue that the decisive factor is opposition with a higher argument of the right type, namely, one implying external causation.