Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[sejpdw]

Is it obligatory or optinonal to use co-ordinating conjunction when we use more than one subordinated clauses as subject, object or adverbial phrase?

For example,

1. Both of these are possible?
1) Actors are so fortunate because they can choose whether they will appear in a tragedy or in a comdey, and whether they will suffer or be merry, cry or laugh?

2) Actors are so fortunate because they can choose whether they will appear in a tragedy or in a comdey, whether they will suffer or be merry, cry or laugh?

2. Both of these are possible?
1) We came back because we ran out of money, and because Ann got ill.
2) We came back because we ran out of money, because Ann got ill

3. All these are possible?
1) He said that the car was very expensive, and that he couldn't buy it.
2) He said the car was very expensive, and that he couldn't buy it.
3) He said that the car was very expensive, and he couldn't buy it.
4) He said the car was very expensive, he couldn't buy it.
5) He explained that the inflation was due to the war and the war should have been avoided.
6) He explained that the inflation was due to the war and that the war should have been avoided.

[Lorikeet]

The only one I can't accept is:
4) He said the car was very expensive, he couldn't buy it.

However, "He said the car was very expensive, so he couldn't buy it." would be okay.

In addition, these two sentences, while both okay, mean different things:

1) We came back because we ran out of money, and because Ann got ill.
2) We came back because we ran out of money, because Ann got ill

1) means there were two reasons for our coming back. One was because we ran out of money, and the other was because Ann got ill.

2) means the reason we came back was because we ran out of money, and the reason we ran out of money was because Ann got ill.

You could also say, "We came back because we ran out of money and Ann got ill." as a variant for number 1).