A colleague of mine, Mary Schleppegrell, has an article about the use of "because" in classroom discourse; as I recall, the idea was that, in certain contexts, "because" did not function as a suborndinator. I believe the article appeared in _The Journal of Pragmatics_. However, in the sentences below, both "if" and "because" look like subordinators to me. Kathleen Ward >Dear Ed, > >I would consider both "if" and "because" to be subordinating >conjunctions. > >Both of the sentence below seem to be complex sentences to me. > >R.E. > >> Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 14:29:57 -0400 >> Reply-to: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar >> <[log in to unmask]> >> From: EDWARD VAVRA <[log in to unmask]> >> Subject: Subordination/Coordination >> To: [log in to unmask] > >> I recently read something that led me to ask all of you the following >>question: >> >> Do you consider "if" and "because" to be coordinating or subordinating >>conjunctions? For example, consider the following two sentences: >> >> He wanted to know if it rained. >> and >> He was late because he forgot. >> >> Are they compound (two main clauses), or are they complex (a main clause >>and a subordinate clause)? >> >> I will appreciate your answers very much. >> Thanks, >> Ed V. >>