Question

Help with grammar: Is either of the these sentence structures correct?

Just because you wanted a puppy is no reason to steal one.
Because you wanted a puppy is no reason steal one.

My question is can an adverbial or dependent clause be the subject of a sentence?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Yes, it can be

BillJ · Answer

[Just because you wanted a puppy] is no reason to steal one.
[Because you wanted a puppy] is no reason steal one.

In your examples the subjects are the bracketed expressions, which are actually preposition phrases introduced by the prep "because", and containing embedded subordinate clauses (underlined). Most kinds of subordinate clauses on their own can also be subject:

[1] Inviting the twins was a bad idea.
[2] Finding suitable lodgings proved to be difficult.
[3] To turn back now would be a mistake.
[4] For her to be so late is most unusual.
[5] That he was guilty was obvious to everyone.
[6] Whether it will work remains to be seen.

Examples [1] and [2] are gerund-participial clauses. [3] and [4] are infinitival clauses, [5] is a declarative content clause, and [6] is an interrogative content clause. They are all subordinate clauses functioning as subject.

BillJ

Anonymous · Answer

Is this sentece correct?  Just because you wanted a puppy is no reason for stealing one. Or : Just because you wanted a puppy, it is no reason for stealing one.

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