Donna Jo Napoli reviews Luigi Burzio's "Italian Syntax: A Government-Binding Approach," published in 1986. The book is praised for its comprehensive study of Italian syntax, covering various topics such as verb classes, cliticization, impersonal si sentences, causatives, and the analysis of reflexive clitics. Napoli highlights Burzio's argument for two classes of intransitive verbs: those that are lexically and syntactically intransitive, and those that are syntactically intransitive but lexically transitive (ergatives). She discusses Burzio's claim that ergative verbs in Italian have an object at DS but not at SS, providing insights into Italian grammar. Napoli also examines Burzio's work on ergative verbs in English, which is based on his doctoral dissertation from 1981. She critiques Burzio's proposal of an Ergative Rule, arguing that there is no evidence for movement with ergative verbs in English. Napoli presents counterarguments to Burzio's five arguments for the Ergative Rule, including empirical and theoretical issues. She concludes that ergative verbs in English are intransitive at all points in the lexicon and syntax, and that Burzio's analysis should not be automatically applied to other languages without careful consideration. Overall, Napoli recommends the book to scholars of Romance studies and syntacticians, while cautioning that Burzio's analysis of ergatives should be considered specific to Italian grammar.Donna Jo Napoli reviews Luigi Burzio's "Italian Syntax: A Government-Binding Approach," published in 1986. The book is praised for its comprehensive study of Italian syntax, covering various topics such as verb classes, cliticization, impersonal si sentences, causatives, and the analysis of reflexive clitics. Napoli highlights Burzio's argument for two classes of intransitive verbs: those that are lexically and syntactically intransitive, and those that are syntactically intransitive but lexically transitive (ergatives). She discusses Burzio's claim that ergative verbs in Italian have an object at DS but not at SS, providing insights into Italian grammar. Napoli also examines Burzio's work on ergative verbs in English, which is based on his doctoral dissertation from 1981. She critiques Burzio's proposal of an Ergative Rule, arguing that there is no evidence for movement with ergative verbs in English. Napoli presents counterarguments to Burzio's five arguments for the Ergative Rule, including empirical and theoretical issues. She concludes that ergative verbs in English are intransitive at all points in the lexicon and syntax, and that Burzio's analysis should not be automatically applied to other languages without careful consideration. Overall, Napoli recommends the book to scholars of Romance studies and syntacticians, while cautioning that Burzio's analysis of ergatives should be considered specific to Italian grammar.