Why can you start a clause with because and not with for?

Question

ex: he did it because he really had no choice in the metter

because he really had no choice in the matter, he did it this is grammatical

he did it for he had really no choice in the matter Why?

for he really had no choice in the matter,he did it this is agrammatical

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Why? Because it's a rule!

for means because of what was previously said.
Nothing has been said yet at the beginning of a sentence.

CJ

Buddhaheart · Answer

Yes, the present-day rule, not like a century ago, seems to be that "for" can’t be used at the beginning of a sentence if it is the coordinating conjunction of a subordinating clause.

One might ask because, as and since can start an independent clause, why not for if it can used in their place (which it can)? A myth? Arbitrary? Perhaps. Today it is still allowed to start a sentence, even a paragraph if it’s a dependent clause as in " I do this often. For I like what I do."

In cases where for means "because of what was previously said", one can understand the application of this rule perfectly. When for means just "because" as in the example of the Inquirer, how could this rule apply?

We all ok w/ "He did it because he really had no choice in the matter." & "Because he really had no choice in the matter, he did it." Presumably the rule permits also " Since he really had no choice in the matter, he did it." & "As he really had no choice in the matter, he did it." The rule doesn’t ‘want’ to permit "For he really had no choice in the matter, he did it." Why??

I must say the question of the original inquirer is valid and the reason supplied by the respondent has its merit I think I am not totally convinced of the argument as yet and I don’t think the inquirer does either.

I guess the rule now is that it is sequentially fixed in its position in a sentence ; it can’t be used at the beginning of it. It must be used as a reason or ground for something introduced or said previously.

Why can you start a clause with because and not with for?

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