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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

"Simply because"

My son became extremely frustrated when he was asked to identify what function the word "simply" served in this sentence.

"Some birds stopped flying simply because they didn't need to".

I want to tell him it's an adverb but for the life of me I can't explain why? What is it qualifying.... the conjunctive phrase explain why they stopped flying?
  

Top answer

Anonymous Some birds stopped flying simply because they didn't need to. 'simply' is an adverb. It modifies the whole because -clause.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous Some birds stopped flying simply because they didn't need to.
  • 'simply' is an adverb.
  • It modifies the whole because -clause.
  • CJ
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5 Answers
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AnonymousSome birds stopped flying simply because they didn't need to.
'simply' is an adverb. It modifies the whole because-clause.

CJ
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Thank you. I was going crazy trying to figure it out. For some reason they didn't teach me English grammar in a formal way. I muddle along with what I was taught in French
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AnonymousThank you. I was going crazy trying to figure it out. For some reason they didn't teach me English grammar in a formal way. I muddle along with what I was taught in French .
It's a bit strange simply because English grammar is much more user-friendly than the French one.
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AnonymousIt's a bit strange simply because English grammar is much more user-friendly than the French one.
Not if you're French.

CJ
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CalifJim AnonymousIt's a bit strange simply because English grammar is much more user-friendly than the French one.Not if you're French.CJ
Agreed. Yes, the exception that proves the rule.
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