City of IF

[chiacutie]

SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS-

Subordinate conjunctions include as, if, because, unless, as if, etcetera etcetera.

Subordinate conjunctions can only be used to connect two sentences. I.E.

I ran fast. I wanted to get there on time.
becomes :

I ran fast, because I wanted to get there on time.

OR you can flip the subordinating clause
(I ran fast, because I wanted to get there on time )

becomes

Because I wanted to get there on time, I ran fast.

Some sentences sound funnny that way. Some sound better. It is a case by case situation and youll have to choose a way to do it.

NOTE:
If the sentence was:

Almost every time uncle Jay was in town, he broght us gifts.

WOULD NOT BE:

He broguht us gifts almost every time uncle jay was in town BECAUSE it changes the meaning of the sentence.

IT BECOMES:

Uncle Jay brought us gifts almost every time he was in town.

When the Subordinate Clause is in front, there should always be a comma in the sentence.


~~~~~~~~~
NOTE:
There are many more subordinate conjunctions. I just listed a few. If oyu notice ANYTHING INCORRECT about this pm me or write it here. I WILL be checking to make sure.

I hope this helps!
Sincerely,

[Chinaren]

Whilst people do it, it is really not good English to start a sentence with 'Because'. Or 'And' and 'But' and a coupla others too.


~Stands back and waits for the cries of rage~

[chiacutie]

Well, no cries of rage, but the thing is that as younger children we are taught that because we wouldn't knoow how ot do it. We would have sentences like "Because I dont want to." which is improper. However, "Because I don't want to, I say no." is proper english ebcause that makes it a subordinate conjunction

I realize that you are a much more accomplished writer than me (MUCH MUCH MORE) but Im entirely sure Im right. It says so in our textbook and our teacher said so as well.

-edit-I believe it is incorrect to start a sentence with a CONNNECTING conjunction. Where's schoolmarm! when you need her????

[Chinaren]

Quote: Well, no cries of rage, but the thing is that as younger children we are taught that because we wouldn't knoow how ot do it. We would have sentences like "Because I dont want to." which is improper. However, "Because I don't want to, I say no." is proper english ebcause that makes it a subordinate conjunction

What you are saying here, is that to force one thing, you are doing another!

I do realize that people say this, but just pointing out it isn't 'good' English.

I have known several English teachers myself, and I have been generally appalled at their level of English.

Cripes! I am becoming Schoolmarm! :shock:

[Mother Goose]

Cry of rage!

What's wrong with starting a sentence with a subordinate clause, whether it's introduced by "because", "if" or any other conjunction? Would you ban them all? If you would, your stories are going to sound pretty weird! (Even more so, I mean :P )

[chiacutie]

chinaren wrote: Quote: Well, no cries of rage, but the thing is that as younger children we are taught that because we wouldn't knoow how ot do it. We would have sentences like "Because I dont want to." which is improper. However, "Because I don't want to, I say no." is proper english ebcause that makes it a subordinate conjunction

What you are saying here, is that to force one thing, you are doing another!

I do realize that people say this, but just pointing out it isn't 'good' English.

I have known several English teachers myself, and I have been generally appalled at their level of English.

Cripes! I am becoming Schoolmarm! :shock:

Im right. Youre wrong.

Deal wih it! ;)

[SchoolMarm!]

Imagine returning after a lovely long vacation only to see this:

chinaren wrote: Cripes! I am becoming Schoolmarm!

My dear Mr. Ren, if you were truly becoming me, there would be no need for your beloved SchoolMarm! to drag her tired old bones back to this abysmal backwater of a burg.

chinaren wrote: Whilst people do it, it is really not good English to start a sentence with 'Because'.

I must tip my hat to you, Mr. Ren, as in all these months nobody caught on to you and you did not reveal your game. Being the old pedant that I am, however, I feel compelled to spell things out for the rest of the class.

My children, Mr. Ren's admonition against beginning a sentence with a subordinate conjunction is of course ridiculous and incorrect. Furthermore, Mr. Ren knew this at the time and broke his own rule in the very sentence that proclaims it. He was making a little joke.

Mr. Ren, I approve. I think that you should stay after class today for a little...extra credit work.

[Amichan]

The conjunctions themselves are bad if not used the right way ,However they do have their places where they can be used to start a thought. Most of all i've been told NEVER use AND to start a sentence I don't know how many times I see people violate this rule

[SchoolMarm!]

Kang wrote: The conjunctions themselves are bad if not used the right way ,However they do have their places where they can be used to start a thought. Most of all i've been told NEVER use AND to start a sentence I don't know how many times I see people violate this rule

There is an excellent reason why you see people violate this rule so frequently, that reason being that no such rule exists. It is perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with 'and' or even 'but', no matter how many know-nothings may have told you otherwise. This is not to say that you can go around willy-nilly sticking a big 'but' to the front of every sentence - the mere fact that a usage is not generally wrong does not mean it is always right.

I must note that, reading your post, one does wonder what people have told you about run-on sentences and capitalization of proper pronouns.

[Amichan]

speaking the language and typing it are two completely different things I can asure you that