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Pro

SYNTAX: pronoun without phonetic properties. An empty category, specified as [+pronominal,-anaphoric] by the binding theory. Pro can be a subject in pro-drop languages, such as Italian. EXAMPLE: pro in (i)b (which only exists in underlying structure) is interpreted as the subject.

(i) a  Piero conosce bene Maria
       Piero knows Maria well
    b  pro Conosce bene Maria
       He knows Maria well
Pro must be licensed. A pro subject is licensed by (morphological) agreement features. It is claimed that pro may occur in object positions in Italian.
LIT. Chomsky, N. (1982)
Chomsky, N. (1981)
Rizzi, L. (1986)