Expressing the reason for something is a fundamental aspect of communication. While “because” is the most common and straightforward way to indicate causality, relying on it exclusively can make your writing and speech sound monotonous.
Mastering alternative expressions not only enhances your vocabulary but also allows you to convey nuances of meaning more effectively. This article explores a variety of ways to express reason in English, providing definitions, examples, and practice exercises to help you elevate your language skills.
This guide is suitable for English language learners of all levels, from beginner to advanced, as well as native speakers looking to refine their expressive capabilities.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition: Expressing Reason
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of Reason Expressions
- Examples
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition: Expressing Reason
Expressing reason involves indicating the cause, motive, or justification for an action, event, or state. It answers the question “Why?” or “For what reason?”.
This can be achieved through various grammatical structures, including conjunctions, prepositions, adverbs, and specialized phrases. Understanding these options allows for more precise and nuanced communication, avoiding the repetitive use of “because.” The choice of which expression to use often depends on the desired level of formality, emphasis, and the grammatical structure of the sentence.
Structural Breakdown
The structure used to express reason often involves linking two clauses or connecting a noun phrase to a clause. Conjunctions like “because,” “since,” and “as” typically introduce a dependent clause that explains the reason behind the main clause.
Prepositions such as “due to,” “owing to,” and “on account of” are followed by a noun phrase representing the reason. Adverbs and adverbial phrases, like “therefore,” “consequently,” and “for this reason,” often connect two independent clauses, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship.
The specific grammatical requirements vary depending on the expression used.
Types and Categories of Reason Expressions
Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words that connect clauses or sentences. They are a common way to express reason and introduce a dependent clause explaining the cause. Common conjunctions used to express reason include: because, since, as, and for.
Prepositions
Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Some prepositions can be used to express reason by introducing a noun phrase that explains the cause. Common prepositions used to express reason include: due to, owing to, on account of, and as a result of.
Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases
Adverbs and adverbial phrases modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Some adverbs and adverbial phrases can be used to express reason by connecting two independent clauses and indicating a cause-and-effect relationship. Common adverbs and adverbial phrases used to express reason include: therefore, consequently, as a consequence, for this reason, and that’s why.
Other Phrases
There are several other phrases that can be used to express reason in English. These phrases often provide a more formal or specific way to indicate the cause. Some common phrases include: in view of, given that, considering that, and seeing that.
Examples
Conjunction Examples
Conjunctions are arguably the most common and versatile way to express reason. They directly link a cause to an effect within a sentence structure.
The following table provides numerous illustrative examples:
| Conjunction | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Because | I stayed home because I was feeling unwell. |
| Because | Because the weather was bad, the game was cancelled. |
| Because | She succeeded because she worked very hard. |
| Since | Since it’s raining, we should take an umbrella. |
| Since | Since you’re going to the store, can you buy some milk? |
| Since | He was allowed to enter since he had a valid ticket. |
| As | As it was getting late, we decided to head home. |
| As | As he was the oldest, he took on the responsibility. |
| As | The project was successful as everyone contributed. |
| For | He must be tired, for he’s been working all day. |
| For | The ground is wet, for it rained last night. |
| For | She was happy, for she had received good news. |
| Because | They decided to cancel the trip because of the hurricane. |
| Since | Since the price of gas has increased, people are driving less. |
| As | As the deadline approached, the team worked tirelessly. |
| For | The company is expanding, for its profits have soared. |
| Because | The concert was postponed because the lead singer got sick. |
| Since | Since you have experience in marketing, we need your help. |
| As | As there was no available parking, we had to walk. |
| For | The restaurant must be good, for it’s always crowded. |
| Because | She brought a jacket because she knew it would get cold. |
| Since | Since you asked nicely, I will help you. |
| As | As the sun set, the temperature dropped quickly. |
| For | He seemed nervous, for he kept fidgeting. |
| Because | The event was a success because of careful planning. |
Preposition Examples
Prepositions followed by a noun phrase offer a more concise way to express reason, often used in formal contexts. Here are some examples:
| Preposition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Due to | The flight was delayed due to bad weather. |
| Due to | Due to unforeseen circumstances, the meeting was postponed. |
| Due to | The team’s success was due to their hard work and dedication. |
| Owing to | Owing to the heavy rain, the roads were flooded. |
| Owing to | The company’s profits declined owing to increased competition. |
| Owing to | The game was canceled owing to the poor field conditions. |
| On account of | On account of his illness, he couldn’t attend the meeting. |
| On account of | The increase in sales was on account of the new marketing campaign. |
| On account of | She was promoted on account of her outstanding performance. |
| As a result of | As a result of the new policies, employee morale improved. |
| As a result of | The city suffered significant damage as a result of the earthquake. |
| As a result of | He lost his job as a result of his misconduct. |
| Because of | The event was canceled because of the storm. |
| Thanks to | Thanks to your help, we finished the project on time. |
| Due to | The accident happened due to driver error. |
| Owing to | Owing to a lack of funding, the project was halted. |
| On account of | He was late on account of the traffic jam. |
| As a result of | The forest fire started as a result of negligence. |
| Because of | She couldn’t sleep because of the noise. |
| Thanks to | Thanks to advancements in technology, our lives have become easier. |
| Due to | Many schools were closed due to the snowstorm. |
| Owing to | Owing to the economic downturn, many companies are downsizing. |
| On account of | The poor harvest was on account of the drought. |
| As a result of | The population increased as a result of immigration. |
| Because of | The game was exciting because of the intense rivalry. |
Adverb and Adverbial Phrase Examples
Adverbs and adverbial phrases provide a way to connect two independent clauses, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship. They often add a degree of formality and logical progression to the text.
Consider these examples:
| Adverb/Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Therefore | It was raining heavily; therefore, we stayed inside. |
| Therefore | The evidence was compelling; therefore, the jury reached a guilty verdict. |
| Therefore | He studied hard; therefore, he passed the exam. |
| Consequently | The company made a poor investment; consequently, it lost a lot of money. |
| Consequently | She missed the bus; consequently, she was late for work. |
| Consequently | The river flooded; consequently, many houses were damaged. |
| As a consequence | He didn’t follow the rules; as a consequence, he was fired. |
| As a consequence | The factory polluted the river; as a consequence, the fish died. |
| As a consequence | She didn’t study; as a consequence, she failed the test. |
| For this reason | The project was poorly planned; for this reason, it failed. |
| For this reason | The economy is struggling; for this reason, unemployment is high. |
| For this reason | The team lacked leadership; for this reason, they lost the game. |
| That’s why | He was feeling ill; that’s why he went to the doctor. |
| That’s why | The car broke down; that’s why we were late. |
| Thus | The experiment was successful; thus, the hypothesis was confirmed. |
| Accordingly | The plan was approved; accordingly, we began the implementation. |
| Hence | The demand increased; hence, the prices went up. |
| Wherefore | The defendant was found guilty; wherefore, the judge sentenced him to prison. |
| That’s why | She didn’t eat breakfast; that’s why she’s hungry now. |
| Therefore | The computer crashed; therefore, I lost all my work. |
| Consequently | The stock market crashed; consequently, many investors lost their savings. |
| As a consequence | He drove drunk; as a consequence, he caused an accident. |
| For this reason | The book was controversial; for this reason, it became a bestseller. |
| That’s why | The store is closed; that’s why there are no lights on. |
| Thus | All the conditions were met; thus, the contract was signed. |
Other Phrase Examples
These phrases offer less common but valuable ways to express reason, often adding a touch of formality or emphasizing the context of the reason. These are particularly useful in academic and professional writing.
| Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| In view of | In view of the circumstances, we have decided to postpone the event. |
| In view of | In view of the evidence, the suspect was released. |
| In view of | In view of the weather forecast, we should pack rain gear. |
| Given that | Given that it’s so late, we should probably call it a night. |
| Given that | Given that she has experience, she’s the best candidate. |
| Given that | Given that the budget is limited, we need to be creative. |
| Considering that | Considering that he’s only been learning for a year, he speaks very well. |
| Considering that | Considering that the traffic is heavy, we should leave early. |
| Considering that | Considering that she’s been working so hard, she deserves a vacation. |
| Seeing that | Seeing that everyone is here, let’s begin the meeting. |
| Seeing that | Seeing that it’s your birthday, we’ll let you choose the restaurant. |
| Seeing that | Seeing that the weather is nice, let’s go for a walk. |
| In light of | In light of the new information, we need to reconsider our strategy. |
| On the grounds that | The judge dismissed the case on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence. |
| For the reason that | He was excused from jury duty for the reason that he had a prior commitment. |
| Bearing in mind that | Bearing in mind that resources are scarce, we need to prioritize. |
| In as much as | The project was a success in as much as it met all the objectives. |
| By virtue of | He was appointed team leader by virtue of his experience. |
| In view of | In view of the current situation, we must take immediate action. |
| Given that | Given that the store is having a sale, we should go shopping. |
| Considering that | Considering that the movie has received good reviews, we should watch it. |
| Seeing that | Seeing that you’re finished with your work, you can go home. |
| In light of | In light of recent events, security measures will be increased. |
| On the grounds that | The application was rejected on the grounds that it was incomplete. |
| For the reason that | She chose not to participate for the reason that she disagreed with the plan. |
Usage Rules
While many of these expressions can be used interchangeably, there are subtle differences in formality and emphasis. “Because” is the most common and versatile. “Since” and “as” can also indicate time, so be sure the context makes the reason clear. “For” is generally more formal and is often used to introduce a reason that is an afterthought. Prepositions like “due to” and “owing to” are followed by noun phrases, while phrases like “in view of” and “given that” introduce clauses. Adverbs like “therefore” and “consequently” connect two independent clauses, showing a direct result.
When using conjunctions, remember that the clause introduced by the conjunction (e.g., “because,” “since,” “as”) can come either before or after the main clause. If it comes before, a comma is usually needed to separate the clauses.
For example: “Because it was raining, we stayed inside.” or “We stayed inside because it was raining.”
Prepositional phrases expressing reason are typically placed at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. For example: “Due to the storm, the roads were closed.” or “The roads were closed due to the storm.”
Adverbs and adverbial phrases that express reason usually connect two independent clauses, with a semicolon or a period separating them. For example: “The company made a poor investment; consequently, it lost a lot of money.” or “The company made a poor investment.
Consequently, it lost a lot of money.”
Common Mistakes
One common mistake is using “because of” before a full clause instead of a noun phrase. For example, it’s incorrect to say “Because of it was raining,” but correct to say “Because of the rain.” Another mistake is confusing “due to” and “owing to” with “due.” “Due” is an adjective, while “due to” and “owing to” are prepositional phrases.
Additionally, be careful with the placement of commas when using conjunctions like “since” and “as” at the beginning of a sentence.
Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Because of it was cold, I wore a coat. | Because it was cold, I wore a coat. | “Because of” should be followed by a noun phrase, not a full clause. |
| The cancellation was due the storm. | The cancellation was due to the storm. | “Due” requires “to” when expressing reason. |
| Since it was raining we stayed inside. | Since it was raining, we stayed inside. | A comma is needed after the “since” clause when it comes first. |
| Owing to the fact that it rained, the game was cancelled. | Owing to the rain, the game was cancelled. | Using a noun phrase is more concise than a full clause after “owing to.” |
| For this reason why I am late. | That’s why I am late. / For this reason, I am late. | “For this reason why” is redundant. Use either “that’s why” or “for this reason.” |
| As of the rain, the event was postponed. | As a result of the rain, the event was postponed. | “As of” indicates time; “as a result of” indicates reason. |
| Due to the fact that he was tired, he went to bed. | Due to his tiredness, he went to bed. | Avoid unnecessary wordiness by using a noun phrase after “due to.” |
| Since of the bad weather, we couldn’t go out. | Because of the bad weather, we couldn’t go out. | “Since of” is incorrect; use “because of” or just “since.” |
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate expression of reason from the list provided: because, since, due to, therefore, as a result of.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The game was postponed __________ the heavy rain. | 1. due to |
| 2. __________ it was getting late, we decided to go home. | 2. Since |
| 3. He lost his job __________ his poor performance. | 3. because |
| 4. The company made a bad investment; __________, it lost a lot of money. | 4. therefore |
| 5. __________ the accident, traffic was backed up for miles. | 5. As a result of |
| 6. __________ you’re going to the store, can you pick up some milk? | 6. Since |
| 7. The concert was canceled __________ the singer’s illness. | 7. due to |
| 8. She studied hard; __________, she passed the exam. | 8. therefore |
| 9. __________ the new policies, employee morale improved. | 9. As a result of |
| 10. I couldn’t sleep __________ the noise outside. | 10. because |
Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation
Rewrite the following sentences using a different expression of reason while maintaining the same meaning.
| Original Sentence | Rewritten Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1. Because it was snowing, the school was closed. | 1. Due to the snow, the school was closed. |
| 2. Since you are not feeling well, you should stay home. | 2. As you are not feeling well, you should stay home. |
| 3. The flight was delayed due to bad weather. | 3. The flight was delayed because of the bad weather. |
| 4. He didn’t study, so he failed the test. | 4. He didn’t study; therefore, he failed the test. |
| 5. As a result of the fire, the building was destroyed. | 5. Because of the fire, the building was destroyed. |
| 6. Owing to the rain, the picnic was canceled. | 6. The picnic was canceled owing to the rain. |
| 7. Since he worked hard, he achieved success. | 7. As he worked hard, he achieved success. |
| 8. The roads were icy; therefore, the accident occurred. | 8. The accident occurred because the roads were icy. |
| 9. Because of the high demand, prices increased. | 9. Due to the high demand, prices increased. |
| 10. She was late since the traffic was heavy. | 10. She was late because the traffic was heavy. |
Exercise 3: Error Correction
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences related to expressing reason.
| Incorrect Sentence | Correct Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Because of it rained, we stayed inside. | 1. Because it rained, we stayed inside. | “Because of” should be followed by a noun phrase. |
| 2. Due the storm, the flight was canceled. | 2. Due to the storm, the flight was canceled. | “Due” requires “to” when expressing reason. |
| 3. Since of the cold weather, I wore a coat. | 3. Because of the cold weather, I wore a coat. | “Since of” is incorrect; use “because of.” |
| 4. As for the reason that, he was late. | 4. For the reason that, he was late. / That’s why he was late. | “As for the reason that” is redundant. |
| 5. Owing to he was sick, he didn’t come. | 5. Owing to his sickness, he didn’t come. | “Owing to” should be followed by a noun phrase. |
| 6. For this reason why I am upset. | 6. For this reason, I am upset. / That’s why I am upset. | “For this reason why” is redundant. |
| 7. As a result of he was tired, he slept. | 7. As a result of his tiredness, he slept. | “As a result of” should be followed by a noun phrase. |
| 8. Seeing that of the situation, we decided to leave. | 8. In view of the situation, we decided to leave. | “Seeing that of” is incorrect; use “in view of.” |
| 9. Given that of the circumstances, we must act quickly. | 9. Given the circumstances, we must act quickly. | “Given that of” is incorrect; use “given that.” |
| 10. In light of the fact of the new evidence, we need to reconsider. | 10. In light of the new evidence, we need to reconsider. | “In light of the fact of” is redundant; use “in light of.” |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, exploring the nuances of expressing reason in different registers (formal vs. informal) and contexts (academic vs. conversational) can be beneficial. Consider the use of more sophisticated phrases like “in as much as,” “by virtue of,” and “on the grounds that.” Additionally, analyze how native speakers use intonation and stress to emphasize the reason being given.
Studying literary texts and analyzing the authors’ choices in expressing reason can also provide valuable insights.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about expressing reason in English:
- Is there a difference between “because” and “since”?
While both “because” and “since” introduce a reason, “since” can also indicate time. To avoid ambiguity, use “since” when the reason is already known or obvious. “Because” is generally used when the reason is new or surprising.
- When should I use “due to” versus “owing to”?
“Due to” and “owing to” are often interchangeable, but “due to” is generally preferred when it modifies a noun, while “owing to” is preferred at the beginning of a sentence. Both are followed by a noun phrase.
- Can I start a sentence with “because”?
Yes, you can start a sentence with “because” for emphasis or to answer a question. However, ensure that the “because” clause is followed by the main clause.
- What is the difference between “therefore” and “consequently”?
Both “therefore” and “consequently” indicate a result or consequence, but “therefore” often implies a logical conclusion, while “consequently” implies a direct result of an action or event.
- Is it correct to say “the reason is because”?
While commonly used, “the reason is because” is considered redundant. It’s better to say “the reason is that” or simply “because.” For example: “The reason I’m late is that I missed the bus” or “I’m late because I missed the bus.”
- How can I express reason in a more formal way?
Use phrases like “in view of,” “given that,” “on the grounds that,” and “for the reason that” to express reason in a more formal and sophisticated manner.
- Is it always necessary to use a comma after “since” or “as” at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes, when “since” or “as” introduces a dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence, a comma is typically needed to separate the clauses. For example: “Since it was raining, we stayed inside.”
- What are some alternatives to “because of” that are less common?
Some less common alternatives to “because of” include: on account of, as a consequence of, by reason of, and attributable to.
Conclusion
Mastering various ways to express reason is crucial for effective communication in English. By moving beyond the simple “because,” you can add nuance, formality, and emphasis to your writing and speech.
Understanding the subtle differences between conjunctions, prepositions, adverbs, and other phrases allows you to choose the most appropriate expression for each situation. Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to usage rules, and avoid common mistakes to enhance your language skills and communicate your ideas with clarity and precision.