Page 114 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

93 beat and win
You can win (in) a game, a race, a battle, an argument etc, and you can win a prize, money etc. You can beat a person that you are playing/arguing/fighting etc against. Compare:
My girlfriend usually wins when we play poker.
My girlfriend beat me at poker the first time we played. (NOT My girlfrienti
W6fl me at 1'6ieer •••) Both verbs are irregular:
beat - beat - beaten win - won - won
94 because
1 because and because of
Because is a conjunction. It is used at the beginning of a clause, before a subject and verb. Because ofis a two-word preposition, used before a noun or a pronoun. Compare:
- We were late because it rained. (NOT •.• 8eea1:tSe 6/it minett.)
We were late because ofthe rain. (NOT •.• beeal:tSe the min.)
- I'm happy because I met you.
I'm happy because ofyou.
2 position of because-clauses
Because and its clause can go after or before the main clause. I finished early because 1 worked fast.
Because I worked fast, I finished early.
Because-clauses can sometimes stand alone, especially as answers or after hesitations.
Why are you crying?- Because John and 1 have had a row.
I don't think I'll go to the party .. . Because I'm feeling a bit tired.
3 just because ..• (it) doesn't mean ••.
This is quite a common structure in informal speech.
Just because you're older than me (it) doesn't mean you can do what you like.
Just because I'm your brother (it) doesn't mean you can keep asking me for money.
For because after reason, see 492.
For the differences between becallse, as, since and for, see 72.
95 been meaning 'come' or 'gone'
Been is often used as a past participle of come and go. Granny has been to see us twice since Christmas.
I haven't been to the theatre for ages.
Have you ever been to Northern Ireland?
beat and win 93
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