Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[whiffycat]

"Just because you're older than me doesn't mean you can tell me what to do."

Can someone tell me the object and subject in this sentance?

Thanks.

Winny

[CP]

I would say that "Just because you're older than me" is the subject and "you can tell me what to do" is the object -- or maybe complement, since the verb is "mean."

But maybe a genuine grammar expert will help us out here.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[rice07]

Hi
I agree with Cp's opinion .I think you can reorder the sentence into "It doesn't mean you can tell me what to do just because you're older than me".Definitely,"It" means"just because...than me",and this happens to be the exsample I saw in a book named "Pratical English usage",which says"Just because...(it) doesn't mean..." is guite a common structure in informal speech.Finally I'd like to say I'm not a grammer expert just wanting to give out my opinion while there're so many generous teachers teaching us natural English.So if I can do to help,I never hesitate.

[rice07]

Sometimes I'm such an impulsive person.Pardon me!
guite=>quite
So if I can do to help=>So if there's anything I can do to help

[whiffycat]

Thanks very much for your help, but I still don't think I understand.

Is this improper use of the flagword "because"?

Or is "Just because you're older than me" an infinitive phrase used as a noun?

[rice07]

Hi Wiffycat
I guess it's possible for you being confused with taking "because" as an adverb conjunction usually leading an adverd subordinate clause to refer to "it".You think that "it" should be a noun(how could an adv cl be a n cl) ,right?(Don't worry too much! I used to have the same opinion as you had when I started learning English.)
By the way,back to the point,here're some examples as follows:
1. I cannot go because I'm busy.
=>"because I'm busy" is an adverb subordinate clause here.
2. The reason (why) I cannot go is because(=that) I'm busy.
=>"because(=that) I'm busy" is a noun subordinate clause used as a complement here.
Let's reorder the sentence into "Because(That) I'm busy is the reason (why) I cannot go.So if the structure is"That you're older than me (it) doesn't mean you can tell me what to do",it seems to be understood easily.But I think this (structure) is not so emphatic as "Just because...(it) doesn't mean..." in meaning.As to if "because" is proper or not,I cannot help you with the answer while there're so many greatly native-speaking teachers here.Finally I reiterate that I'm not a grammer expert(I don't cut the mustard) but a busybody.If (I'm) wrong,pardon me,please!

[rice07]

Sorry!"As to if " sould be "As to whether".

[rice07]

Hi Wiffycat
If "because" leads an adverb subordinate clause at the beginning of a compound sentence,there's usually with a "coma(,)" between main clause and subordinate clause,or otherwise.
For e.g.1.I cannot go because I'm busy.
=Because I'm busy,I cannot go.
=>"because I'm busy" is an adverb subordinate clause.
For e.g.2.The reason (why) I cannot go is because(=that) I'm busy.
=3.Because(=That) I'm busy is the reason (why) I cannot go.
e.g.1,2 and 3 have the same meaning,but you sould note those varieties.
"because(=that) I'm busy" in e.g.2 is a complement(n.cl.)
"Because(=That) I'm busy" in e.g.3 is a subject(n.cl.)
Now I guess you"ve got a notion of how to recognize which one is adv.cl. or n.cl..The same as I mentioned earlier,if wrong,pardon me,please!