This week on Ask a Teacher we answer a question from Yigitcan.
Yigitcan asks if it is correct to begin a sentence with conjunctions such as and, but and or.
插入语
Their grammar book, this person adds, says no.
It is completely acceptable to begin a sentence with the words and, but, and or.
Conjunction words like these join together sentences, clauses, or phrases.
动名词作主语，后有介词词组，主语比较长
Sometimes starting a sentence with a conjunction makes your writing sound better.
keep+adj.
It can keep your thoughts clearly separate.
积累表达 add importance to
And it can add importance to a thought, like in this example:
not only引导倒装
Not only is Stella my sister, she also is my best friend.
And she is a great business partner, too!
Other times, it might be better to use a different word, such as, however.
形容词叠加
The word "however" sounds a bit more formal and serious than "but."
The right word choice depends on the kind of writing you are doing.
Let’s look at another example.
This one is from a recent Words and Their Stories article on the Learning English website.
Listen for the two sentences that begin with a conjunction.
"To make it on Broadway, you have to be very good.
But you also have to be tough.
积累表达
Actors usually have many doors closed in their faces before other doors, hopefully, open.
But even if you are hard-working and gifted, you may also need something else to succeed on Broadway -- luck!
Yigitcan’s question is not surprising.
被动
Many people are taught to avoid using conjunction words at the start of sentences.
In fact, experts at Merriam-Webster.com write: "Everybody agrees that it’s all right to begin a sentence with and, and nearly everybody admits to having been taught at some past time that the practice was wrong."
And that is Ask a Teacher.
I’m Anna Matteo.
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