As, since, for, because - what's the difference

Question

Hi,I need your help with these two sentences in my testpaper.1) Her hands pushingmy hair that way did upset me, her hands feltrough against my young skin.(A) for (B) as (C) or (d) ifThe answer is (A)2) Long after I shouted at her, I still couldn't fall asleep mywords were always lingering deep in mind.(A) despite (B) lest (C) since (D)forThe answer is (C).I've checked several grammar books, but I need your help to confirm my thought. Is it true that "as" and "since" can be only placed in the beginning of the sentence, while "for" comes after the main clause. Or you can be very kind to tell me what's the difference between them when they are used to explain the reasons. Then why cannot I choose (D) for answer in the second sentence.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hi, I need your help with these two sentences in my test paper. 1) Her hands pushing my hair that ... hands felt rough against my young skin. (A) for (B) as (C) or (d) if The answer is (A)[/nq]
There is no grammatical or syntactic reason to
prefer case A over case B.
[nq:1]2) Long after I shouted at her, I still couldn't fall asleep my words were always lingering deep in mind. (A) despite (B) lest (C) since (D)for The answer is (C).[/nq]
The word "as" is no less usual than "since" in this context: "because" and some other conjunctions are no less availablle.
These two questions suggest the textbook (or this part of it) focuses too narrowly on minor details of stylistic preference (which vary with time and place) for students who are mainly concerned with grammatical function and correct syntax.

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hi, I need your help with these two sentences in ... (B) as (C) or (d) if The answer is (A)[/nq]
[nq:1]There is no grammatical or syntactic reason to prefer case A over case B.[/nq]
Agreed. If anything, "as" is preferable as in more common use. "For" in the example sentence is a coordinating conjunction, and it is rarely used that way in contemporary English. If asked for the best word to insert in the blank, I'd answer "None of the above; use 'because'."
[nq:2]2) Long after I shouted at her, I still couldn't ... (B) lest (C) since (D)for The answer is (C).[/nq]
[nq:1]The word "as" is no less usual than "since" in this context: "because" and some other conjunctions are no less availablle.[/nq]
"For" is also correct here, even if relatively uncommon. So would be "as" or "because." "Lingering deep in mind" is inelegantly phrased. I'd say "my words continued to linger deep in my mind."

I don't know if the OP has copied the example sentence incorrectly or if the error is in the original, but the sentence desperately needs a comma after "asleep."
[nq:1]These two questions suggest the textbook (or this part of it) focuses too narrowly on minor details of stylistic preference (which vary with time and place) for students who are mainly concerned with grammatical function and correct syntax.[/nq]
Agreed. People shouldn't have to beat their heads against this sort of thing. English is tough enough as is. And in this particular case there's no reason why "as" is specifically correct in the first sentence and "for" in the second. They could be reversed with no loss of correctness or clarity.

Liebs

As, since, for, because - what's the difference

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