Restrictive clause, because, comma

Question

hi everyone,i'm still struggling with this one. have been reading some guides on it but i still get confused by many instances of restrictive clauses with because.right, let's start with..."i moved because it was small"straight forward, we all understand thathow about i put "i think" before it"i think i moved because it was small"or does it need a comma to have the same meaning as the first sentence above?"i think i moved, because it was small"these confuse me so much, any help greatly appreciated, thanks in advance

Avangi · Accepted Answer

huxwelliani moved because it was small"

"i think i moved because it was small"

"i think i moved, because it was small

That's a cute one!

If the second clause is not restrictive, you should be able to toss it out without changing the basic meaning of your sentence. (Maybe you could add the non-restrictive clause in a second sentence.)

I think I moved. And, oh, by the way, the reason I think that I moved is because it was too small.

But I'm not really 100% sure that I moved!

If you wish to hedge on the "I think" (suggesting that you're not sure that this is the reason), you could say:
I moved, I think, because it was too small. "I think" becomes parenthetical.
I moved (I think) because it was too small.
The "because" clause continues to be restrictive, in spite of the commas around "I think."
I moved because it ws too small, I think.
The meaning is the same as if the "I think" were placed at the beginning without a comma.
The clause is restrictive.

I moved, because it was small. I moved - because it was small.

Here, the clause is non-restrictive.

I moved! And, oh, by the way, the reason was because it was too small.

BillJ · Answer

huxwelliani'm still struggling with this one. have been reading some guides on it but i still get confused by many instances of restrictive clauses with because.

right, let's start with...
"i moved because it was small"
straight forward, we all understand that

how about i put "i think" before it
"i think i moved because it was small"

or does it need a comma to have the same meaning as the first sentence above?
"i think i moved, because it was small"

No, a comma is not needed, and forget 'restrictiveness' - it has nothing to do with any of this.

BillJ

Avangi · Answer

BillJand forget 'restrictiveness' - it has nothing to do with any of this.

Any of what?

The subject of the OP's question and thread is "restrictive clauses."

- A.

Restrictive clause, because, comma

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