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How to express reason

How to express reason
Activity Drag&Drop
Activity Drag&Drop
Practise the different connectors to express reason in English and when to use each of them. Also, pay attention to punctuation.
 

Content preview

Instructions

Click on the words at the bottom and drag them into the empty boxes of the sentence to complete it.
 

BECAUSE (c)

      I was worried because Tally was late

In conversation we very often use the form 'CAUSE (also spelled: coz, cos or cuz, cus in American English)
      I left cause I was getting bored

BECAUSE  OF+ noun (p)

This is a preposition, so it is not followed by a clause with a verb, it is followed by a noun or noun phrase

      She was late because of the traffic
      I was tired because of all the hard work
 
AS / SINCE (c)

These conjunctions are formal. In a less formal language we prefer the equivalent with SO:

     As it's raining again, we'll have to stay at home (= It was raining again, so we had to stay at home)
     Since it's too late, I think we should stop now  (= it was too late, so I think we should stop)
 
They're used when the reason is already well known, or it is less important than the rest of the sentence.  These clauses often begin the sentence:
 
      Since I speak no German, we had to communicate in English
      Since it's too late, we should leave it for tomorrow
      It's very noisy here, since we live close to a motorway

Compare:

- Sorry, I must go because I have a meeting at 5  (I'm giving you new information)
- Since today is Sunday, let's stay at home and rest  (we both know that today is Sunday)

THAT'S (THE REASON) WHY (c.)

This relative clause is very commonly used to express reason (especially in its short version)
 
     My car's broken, that's the reason why I came walking
     I didn’t know she was your sister, that’s why I didn't talk to her
     You speak very good English. Oh yes, I forgot your mother's English. That's why

 


abbreviations:  (c.)= conjunction  (p.)= preposition    (see the important difference here: Kinds of Connectors)


Items

Gapped text Items
Don't go now ______________________ it's too late 'cause / because of / that's why
I live here ______________________ I like this city 'cause / that's why / because of
I'm going to bed ______________________ it's very late because of / that's why / 'cause
Listen well, ______________________ I'm not going to repeat it twice 'cause / that's why / because of
I can't buy it ______________________ it's too expensive for me 'cause / that's why / because of
I don't want to go ______________________ I'm too tired because of / because / that's why
I was worried ______________________ Tally was late because of / because / that's why
It's closed ______________________ it's 6 o'clock that's why / because / because of
It's expensive ______________________ it's good quality that's why / because / because of
Listen to this ______________________ it's very important that's why / because of / because
England is very green ______________________ the rain because / because of / that's why
She had problems ______________________ tobacco because of / that's why / 'cause
She was late ______________________ the traffic because of / that's why / because
She started to cry ______________________ you because of / that's why / 'cause
We came to live here ______________________ the sea because / that's why / because of
He was on holiday. ______________________ he was never at home Because of / That's why / 'Cause
It's very cold. ______________________ I need a coat. 'Cause / That's why / Because of / Since / As / Because
I've been working all day. ______________________ I'm so tired. Since / That's why / Because of / Because / As
I'm from Australia. ______________________ I speak with a different accent. Because / Because of / Since / That's why
It's Sunday. ______________________ the shops are closed Because of / Because / That's why / As
He sat on the floor ______________________ there were no chairs free since / because of / that's why
______________________ I'm Australian, I speak perfect English Since / Because of / That's why
______________________ I speak no German, we had to communicate in English Since / That's why / Because of
______________________ it was raining, we decided to stay at home That's why / Because of / Since
______________________ you don't like it, I'll have it That's why / Because of / Since
______________________ we are all here, let's start dinner now As / That's why / Because of
______________________ you know her, you can invite her to come That's why / Because of / As
______________________ you have finished, you can go home Because of / That's why / As
______________________ we are only three people, we need more help to do it Because of / That's why / As
______________________ this chair is broken, we only have 4 chairs in good condition, we need one more. That's why / Because of / As
Total number of items: 30
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