I was told by my thesis advisor not to start a sentence with "even though". Does anyone agree? May I know why?
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1It strikes me as hyper-correction. Native speakers do it all the time.– TecBratCommented Sep 25, 2013 at 18:31
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Accepting an answer is difficult for this kind of a question, though.– DiliniCommented Sep 26, 2013 at 20:48
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4 Answers
Firstly, there is no word eventhough; it needs to be even though.
Secondly, there is no sensible reason to avoid starting a sentence with even though, as long as the even though clause (which is a subordinate or dependent clause) is followed by a main or independent clause.
Thirdly, nothwithstanding 2 above, you should follow the instructions of your advisor.
Fourthly, you might want to ask this question directly of your advisor.
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Thanks. Such an enlightening answer! However, I wonder whether the following two will have the same effect: (1) Dependent clause, followed by Independent clause (2) Independent clause followed by Dependent clause– DiliniCommented Sep 25, 2013 at 21:11
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@user52801: In general, whatever comes first in a sentence has the greatest prominence. So in the sentence Because I was so tired, I went to bed straight after dinner the tiredness has prominence. Whereas in I went to bed straight after dinner because I was so tired the going to bed has prominence. Fronting is the term for moving an element to the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.– ShoeCommented Sep 26, 2013 at 4:27
Even though is a conjunction and there's a grammar myth that sentences cannot be started with conjunctions.
While reality is conjunctions are of two types : 1) Co-ordinating conjunctions 2) Subordinating conjunctions.
And, but, or, yet, so are co-ordinating conjunctions that are used to combine sentences.
While, because, even though, although, until, unless are subordinating conjunctions which link to the main clause of sentence.
We use conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence : 1) I can solve this issue. But do you think boss will allow me to do so?
To conclude, I can say : We can start a sentence with Even though.
Please refer this link for details : http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/01/can-i-start-a-sentence-with-a-conjunction/
Examples of sentences where even though is used in the beginning of the sentence : http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_start_a_sentence_with_even_though
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Thank you very much for the detailed answer :) However, your answer spawned another question. Can this sentence "stand" on its own: "But do you think boss will allow me to do so?"? I think it is meaningless without the preceding sentence; thus it cannot be considered as a sentence. I am not sure though.– DiliniCommented Sep 25, 2013 at 19:08
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It’s a pretty smart and progressive budget. But do you think those changes go far enough? What do you think about this sentence– Sweet72Commented Sep 25, 2013 at 19:17
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1@user52801 Sentences only occur in contexts, so all sentences are meaningless outside their contexts. Commented Sep 25, 2013 at 19:20
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@Sweet72 I think the second sentence does not have an existence on its own. I suggest that it should be "It’s a pretty smart and progressive budget, but do you think those changes go far enough?"– DiliniCommented Sep 25, 2013 at 19:28
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1@user52801: “I brought you a turkey and cheese sandwich, here you go.” — “But I don't like cheese!” Nothing wrong with having an independent sentence start with a conjunction; it just has to be clear what it's conjuncting. Commented Sep 25, 2013 at 23:02
Used to be an old-fashioned idea that you could not start sentences with conjunctions. As a child in the 1950s we were always told never to start a sentence with 'And'. But why not? Nowadays it is done all the time. However other changes in grammatical fashion I do not find so agreeable. Whilst split infinitives are used all over the place, especially by Americans I still find them clumsy and inelegant.
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This answer would be better if you clarified that even though is a conjunction, and you removed the irrelevant grumbling about split infinitives. Commented Sep 25, 2013 at 23:34
Samuel Johnson for English, Vaugelas for French, - and a lot of others - set up a number of unjustified rules. Follow the common sense, and leave the so-called purists aside ; why on earth should they rule the words ?
