INDEX:
1. what you say when you are giving the reason for something
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ CAUSE
↑ REASON
↑ RESULT
↑ PURPOSE
↑ SO/THEREFORE
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1. what you say when you are giving the reason for something
▷ because /bɪˈkɒz, bɪkəzǁbɪˈkɔːz, bɪkəz/ [conjunction]
use this when you are explaining the reason why something happens or why you do something :
▪ She’s in a bad mood because her father won’t let her go to the party tonight.
▪ ‘This photograph doesn’t look like you.’ ‘That’s because it isn’t me - it’s my sister’.
▪ Because you’ve done such a good job, I’m giving everyone a 10% bonus.
just because
used when you think an explanation is not a good enough reason for something
▪ You mean you dumped him just because he forgot your birthday?
simply because
used when there is a very simple reason for something
▪ We’re not going on holiday this year, simply because we can’t afford it.
because of something
▪ I had to move because of my job.
▪ Because of the increase in street crime, many old people are afraid to leave their homes.
▷ since also as British /sɪns, æz/ [conjunction]
use this to give the reason why someone decides to do something :
▪ We had planned to play tennis but since it was raining we decided to go swimming instead.
▪ Since you’re going to be in the area anyway, you can pick up the order for me.
▪ As he wasn’t well, I offered to do the shopping.
▷ due to/owing to /ˈdjuː tuːǁˈduː-, ˈəʊɪŋ tuː/ [preposition] formal
used especially in official statements to explain what causes a particular problem :
▪ Our flight was delayed due to poor weather conditions.
▪ Owing to circumstances beyond our control, we regret to inform customers that this store will close early.
▪ In the end I was unable to attend the conference, owing to financial difficulties.
be due to
▪ The accident was due to a concrete block thrown from a bridge.
▷ thanks to /ˈθæŋks tuː/ [preposition]
use this to explain that something has been possible because of someone’s actions or because something is very good, very effective etc :
▪ Today thanks to the Internet, you can do all your Christmas shopping from home.
▪ The play was a great success thanks to the effort and commitment of everyone involved.
HINT : Thanks to is also used when you want to criticize or complain about someone, when you are annoyed with them because they have caused something bad to happen. thanks to somebody’s carelessness/stupidity etc
Thanks to your carelessness, the documents have been lost.
thanks to you
Thanks to you the whole thing was a complete disaster.
▷ as a result of /əz ə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv/ [preposition]
use this when you are explaining what made something happen, especially something unpleasant :
▪ Many people are now homeless as a result of the civil war.
as a direct result of
▪ Mr Logan died as a direct result of the injuries he received in the accident.
▷ the reason ... is /ðə ˈriːz ə n ɪz/
use this when you are explaining something carefully, especially when you have been asked to explain why something happened :
▪ The reason we didn’t consider her for the job was that she didn’t have enough experience.
▪ The reason we are here this evening is to say thank you to Brian for all his hard work.
▷ through /θruː/ [preposition]
use this when you are explaining why someone or something has succeeded or failed :
▪ We succeeded through sheer hard work.
▪ Hundreds of working days have been lost this year through illness.
▪ The Community Association collapsed through lack of support.
▷ out of /ˈaʊt ɒv/ [preposition]
use this when someone does something because of a particular feeling :
out of interest/curiosity/desperation etc
▪ She opened the letter, just out of curiosity.
▪ I came to you out of desperation - you’ve got to help me.
▷ on account of /ɒn əˈkaʊnt ɒv/ [preposition]
use this when you want to give the reason why something is necessary, impossible, or true :
▪ We had to move to London on account of my job.
▪ They’re called the Black Hills on account of their color.
▷ seeing as /ˈsiːɪŋ æz/ [conjunction] spoken informal
use this to give a reason for what you are suggesting or deciding :
▪ Seeing as it’s your birthday, why don’t we go out for a meal?
▪ I’d better do it myself, seeing as no one else wants to do it.