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. >