Constructions with (deísmo) in identificational sentences

In this paper we present a description of the non-standard construction (the so-called deísmo) in identificational sentences in Spanish. In the first place, the infinitive with de that appears after the copula is analyzed as the subject of the copulative sentence. After the analysis of the contexts in which this construction occurs with predicative verbs, new relevant data in the context of copulative sentences are offered, as well as a classification of the nouns that allow the appearance of deísmo in copulative sentences. The comparison between the two groups shows that generalizations with predicative verbs can be extended to the nouns which are the predicate of identificational sentences. Finally, it is shown that in these constructions, as in predicative contexts, the segment de does not behave like a preposition but as a complementizer.