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Lahlah Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Can you start a sentence with "because"
A co-teacher and I are teaching in a 7th gr. classroom on the topic of subordinating conjunctions. A student stated today that last year her teacher said, "you should never begin sentences with because." The co-teacher and I believe differently. What is/are the general rule(s) pertaining to the word "because?"
Top answer
After a brief google search I found this: «A favorite rule of schoolteachers (but curiously absent from the tradition of usage commentary) is that a sentence must not begin with because. com)
- After a brief google search I found this: «A favorite rule of schoolteachers (but curiously absent from the tradition of usage commentary) is that a sentence must not begin with because.
- com)
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27 Answers
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After a brief google search I found this:
«A favorite rule of schoolteachers (but curiously absent from the tradition of usage commentary) is that a sentence must not begin with because. Sometimes, however, because is perfectly appropriate as the opening word of a sentence, as in the beginning of one of Emily Dickinson's best-known poems: "Because I could not stop for Death/He kindly stopped
«A favorite rule of schoolteachers (but curiously absent from the tradition of usage commentary) is that a sentence must not begin with because. Sometimes, however, because is perfectly appropriate as the opening word of a sentence, as in the beginning of one of Emily Dickinson's best-known poems: "Because I could not stop for Death/He kindly stopped
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Lahlah, welcome to the forums.
I think that it's an over-generalization to the "rule" of using a full sentence to answer a question.
Why was John late?
Because he stopped to help a lady paint her fence vs John was late because he stopped to help a lady paint her fence.
Even in formal writing, a sentence can start with Because as long as it's
I think that it's an over-generalization to the "rule" of using a full sentence to answer a question.
Why was John late?
Because he stopped to help a lady paint her fence vs John was late because he stopped to help a lady paint her fence.
Even in formal writing, a sentence can start with Because as long as it's
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Welcome to English Forums!
I think Grammar Geek hit the nail on the head (although I thought John stopped to help the lady paint her face).
I think Grammar Geek hit the nail on the head (although I thought John stopped to help the lady paint her face).
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0 Because there was no more room in the hotel, we had to spend the night elsewhere. 0-
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0 A common way of starting a sentence with because is, for example: 02 br
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00 Be cause it was cold outside, I put on my jacket. 02 br
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00 So yes, as long as the sentence makes sense. 02 br
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00 i.e., this doesn't make sense: Because it was raining. 02 br
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00 Well what about it was raining? 0-
02 br
00 Be cause it was cold outside, I put on my jacket. 02 br
02 br
00 So yes, as long as the sentence makes sense. 02 br
02 br
00 i.e., this doesn't make sense: Because it was raining. 02 br
02 br
00 Well what about it was raining? 0-
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thank you, I once had to creat a sentence using certain words such as; timmy, broke, friends, beause and I wrote "Because Timmy Broke his arm, he could not play outside with his friends. The teacher argued with me saying I can not start a sentence with the word "because". this was in the 4th grade.You can start a sentence with the word "because" as long as that sentence has a comma in it and foll
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