Results 1 to 6 of 6
Like Tree5Likes
  • 1 Post By nelson13
  • 1 Post By 5jj
  • 3 Post By 5jj

Thread: The use of because

  1. #1
    Winwin2011 is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • Hong Kong
      • Current Location:
      • Hong Kong
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    544

    Default The use of because

    In speech, it is fine to use "because' at the beginning of a sentence. However, some people say it is not considered good style to do this in writing. I wonder if it is correct to use "It is" before "because" while answering the following sentence. Please note that the following question is in present tense.

    Question: Why do the pirates need to keep their ship light?
    Answer: It is because it let the ship move fast.

    Many thanks for your help!
    Last edited by Winwin2011; 24-Nov-2012 at 11:23.

  2. #2
    nelson13 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • Hong Kong
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Posts
    196

    Default Re: The use of because

    Quote Originally Posted by Winwin2011 View Post
    Some people say it is not considered good style to use "because' at the beginning of a sentence. I wonder if it is correct to use "It is" before "because" while answering the following sentence. Please note that the following question is in present tense.

    Question: Why do the pirates need to keep their ship light?
    Answer: It is because it let the ship move fast.

    Many thanks for your help!
    I remember someone said it's incorrect because using a conjunction after IS(or a verb) in grammar is strange.

    But you can simply ignore it, because Thackeray more than once used such a phrase.

    In daily conversation, who would say it is not good style in this case?

    In Burmese Days, a sentence:

    “Why? I don't know. Because she wanted to, I suppose.”
    Winwin2011 likes this.
    I am studying at university in Hong Kong and major in English.

  3. #3
    Winwin2011 is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • Hong Kong
      • Current Location:
      • Hong Kong
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    544

    Default Re: The use of because

    Hi Nelson,

    In speech, it is fine to use "because' at the beginning of a sentence. Please note that I have edited my original post.
    Last edited by Winwin2011; 24-Nov-2012 at 11:33.

  4. #4
    Winwin2011 is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • Hong Kong
      • Current Location:
      • Hong Kong
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    544

    Default Re: The use of because

    Quote Originally Posted by nelson13 View Post
    I remember someone said it's incorrect because using a conjunction after IS(or a verb) in grammar is strange.

    But you can simply ignore it, because Thackeray more than once used such a phrase.

    In daily conversation, who would say it is not good style in this case?

    In Burmese Days, a sentence:

    “Why? I don't know. Because she wanted to, I suppose.”
    Hi Nelson,

    In speech, it is fine to use "because' at the beginning of a sentence. Please not that I have edited my original post

  5. #5
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    23,973

    Default Re: The use of because

    Quote Originally Posted by Winwin2011 View Post
    In speech, it is fine to use "because' at the beginning of a sentence. However, soome people say it is not considered good style to use "because' at the beginning of a sentence in writing.
    It is perfectly acceptable to use 'because' at the beginning of a sentence, provided that the sentence contains a main clause:

    Because George would not receive a letter in time, Mary decided to send a telegram.
    I wonder if it is correct to use "It is" before "because" while answering the following sentence. Please note that the following question is in present tense.

    Question: Why do the pirates need to keep their ship light?
    Answer: It is because it let helps the ship move fast.
    That's fine.
    Winwin2011 likes this.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  6. #6
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    23,973

    Default Re: The use of because

    Quote Originally Posted by Winwin2011 View Post
    Please not that I have edited my original post
    Please do not edit your original post after people have already responded. Such editing can make responses seem very strange/confusing.
    Winwin2011, Rover_KE and anhnha like this.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1