Lietuvių kalbos beasmeniai sakiniai ir jų atitikmenys anglų kalboje
The Lithuanian Impersonal Sentences and Their Equivalents in the English Language

Summary/Abstract: The study highlights problematic aspects of conception of the terms concerning impersonal sentences, identification of the boundaries of impersonal sentences in modern Lithuanian and English grammars. Structural peculiarities of impersonal sentences are identified which are determined by typological differences and contrasts, and particular expression depending on semantic types of impersonal sentences. The impersonal sentences are evaluated according to the grammatical subject approaching the reality. The specific subject “dummy” it is evaluated and the structure of the impersonal cleft clauses is determined. Structurally the Lithuanian impersonal sentences are divided into: 1) verbal (having the impersonal form of the verb or the auxiliary verb), 2) indeclinable adjectival or participial forms having a real or unvoiced copula/ junction, 3) substantival (with copula BE or without it). The particular impersonal clauses are treated as infinitival clauses. The existential clauses are interpreted as medium cases between the impersonal and personal clauses. The position of impersonal clauses within the compound sentences and the discourse are discussed. The peculiarities of the word order and the discourse role of focus and topic are established in the impersonal clauses in Lithuanian and English. The differences of the positions of beneficience and location in Lithuanian and English as well as translation problems are raised.

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