I2 - Lesson 6
More ways to express reasons.
Using て or で to indicate causes and reasons
....て form, something happened. The something that has happened must not be an action and it must be something definite.
Examples
As I exercised in the morning, I feel energetic.
朝運動して、元気を感じる。
As I played game till late last night, I feel sleepy now.
昨日の晩ゲームを遊んで、今眠いです。
As the train service got delayed, I came late.
列車の運行が遅れて、遅くなりました。
Many trees fell because of the typhoon.
台風で、多くの木を倒れた。
Q: How was your trip to Japan?
Q: 日本の旅行がどうですか。
A: I was busy, so I couldn't go.
A: 忙しくて、行けませんでした。
Do not do this:
Because it's lunch time, I am going to the gym.
ランチタイムで、ジムに行きましょう。
This sentence is structurally unacceptable because the latter action is not definite and it contains the speaker's will. You can choose to go or not go. In this case, the application of から is more appropriate.
More appropriate: ランチタイムから、ジムに行きましょう。
Because I want to watch tv later, I had better finish my homework.
後で、テレビを見て、宿題を終わったほうがいいです。
This sentence is structurally unacceptable because the latter action is not definite and it contains the speaker's will. You can choose to go or not go. In this case, the application of から is more appropriate.
More appropriate: 後で、テレビを見るから、宿題を終わったほうがいいです。
As my friends will come tonight, I am going to clean the house now.
今晩友達が来て、これから家を掃除します。
This sentence is structurally unacceptable because the time relation of the 2 clauses are not clear.
More appropriate: 今晩友達が来るから、これから家を掃除します。
- There is a time sequence rule in this sentence structure. V-て must always occur first. て, then reason.
- Causes and reasons using v-te must be definite. E.g. You were late because the train got delayed.
- It must not be used to show the speaker's will. E.g. Because you were late, I will dock your pay.
- Potential form can be used in this structure. E.g. Because I'm busy, I cannot go.
Using ので to express causes and reasons
The usage of ので is like から. Because you did something, something happened.
Examples
I will not buy it because I don't have money.
お金がないので、買いません。
I will meet my friends tonight because I am free.
暇なので、今晩友達に会います。
I will not be going because I am sick.
病気なので、行きません。
- ので is more polite and softer as compared to から.
- While から follows both polite and plain form, ので follows plain form most of the time. Except for formal polite situations.
- You can form です + から but you cannot do that with ので.
Using Verbs/Adjs/Nouns...ために to express causes and reasons
E.g. Due to illness, I was absent from class.
You can use ために to express causes and reasons in situations like this.
Structure
Verb (dictionary form) + tame ni
e.g. 働くために
i-adjective + tame ni
e.g. 強いために
Adjective na + tame ni
e.g. 静かなために
Noun no + tame ni
e.g. 病気のために
Examples
Many people died because of the virus.
ウイルスのために、多くの人が死んだ。
I couldn't go to work because I was sick.
病気のために、仕事に行けません。
It is convenient to travel because of the shinkansen.
新感線のために、旅行に便利です。
- The に in ために can be omitted.
- ために in this usage is often used with noun.
Using Verbs/Nouns...ために to say "in order to do something"
E.g. In order to wash my clothes, I have to buy a washer.
ために can be thought of as "I have to do something in order to do something."
Structure
Verb (dictionary form) + ために
e.g. 働くために
Noun の + ためい
e.g. 病気のために
Examples
In order to have my own house, I have to save money.
自分の家を持つために、貯金しています。
In order to wash clothes, I have to buy a washer.
服を洗濯するために、洗濯機(せんたっき)を買います。
In order to speak Japanese, I have to practice everyday.
日本語を話すために、毎日練習しています。
- You can use ために when you already have a purpose and your mind is set. It indicates some form of determination.
- You cannot use potential verb with ために.
- You can only use it on 1 subject(People).
- ために in this usage are usually used with verb and noun.