N5 · Lesson 22
Because
〜から ・ 〜ので ・ どうして / なぜ ・ だから ・ しかし / けれども / けど
In this lesson, you will learn to give reasons and excuses, to ask why, to start a sentence with 'so', and to say 'but' in speech and in writing. Tanaka is late to the festival planning, and his excuses do not quite add up.
By the end you will be able to say
どうして 遅かったですか。Why were you late?
宿題が 多いですから、今晩は 勉強します。I have a lot of homework, so I'll study tonight.
今日は 忙しいので、来週 行きます。I'm busy today, so I'll go next week.
雨でした。だから、家に いました。It rained. So I stayed home.
この 店は 高いですけど、おいしいです。This place is expensive, but the food is good.
The grammar in this lesson
- Because: 〜から — Reason + から, then the result: から after a reason means 'because' or 'so'.
- Because (softer): 〜ので — Reason + ので also means 'because', and sounds softer and more polite than から.
- Why? どうして / なぜ — どうして asks why; なぜ means the same and sounds more formal. Answer with 〜からです.
- So, that's why: だから — だから starts a new sentence and means 'so' or 'that's why'; the sentence before it is the reason.
- But, however: しかし / けれども / けど — けれども and casual けど join 'A, but B'; しかし starts a sentence with 'however' in writing.