Ways of Giving Reasons in English

Ways of Giving Reasons in English

Hello English learners! Have you ever found yourself stuck trying to explain why something happened? Whether you’re writing an email, answering a Cambridge exam question, or just chatting with friends, being able to give clear and varied reasons in English is a must! In this lesson, we’re going to explore different ways of giving reasons and causes in English – using simple words like because, more formal phrases like due to, and advanced structures like with the aim of or thanks to. You’ll learn when and how to use each one, how they differ, and how to sound more fluent, natural, and precise in both writing and speaking.

So, if you’re ready to stop saying “because” over and over again, let’s try to give your English some variety and sophistication!

Because/Because of

Both ‘because’ and ‘because of’ are used to tell a reason. ‘Because’ is a conjunction and we normally use it in a subject + verb construction; ‘because of’ is a preposition and it goes with a gerund or a noun.

For example:

• I got up early because I couldn’t sleep.
• I got up early because of my inability to sleep.
• I got up early because of not being able to sleep.

You shouldn’t use ‘because’ or ‘because of’ at the beginning of the sentence. Instead, use the phrase ‘the reason (for this) is’.

Ways of giving reasons in English

The reason (for this) is

• The police arrested two men last night. The reason for this is a bank robbery.
• The reason I’m writing is to apply for a position in your company.

In order to

‘In order to’ is a conjunction we use to introduce a purpose.

For example:

• John works two jobs in order to support his numerous family.
• He caught an early train in order not to be late for the meeting.

Ways of giving reasons in English

Why

‘Why’ is a conjunction we use to introduce the reason that causes something to happen.

For example:

• Michael never found out why his wife left him.
• Scientists have finally found the reason why chocolate is addictive.

As a result of

‘As a result of’ explains the reason something happens.

For example:

• We couldn’t get a bank loan to buy a house as a result of inflation.
• As a result of intensive police work, the crime rate is lower than it was last year.

Ways of giving reasons in English

For

‘For’ is a preposition that explains a particular reason.

• The judge sentenced him to death for his crime.
• Many people today decide not to eat meat for health reasons.

Through

‘Through’ is a preposition we normally use to explain why someone or something succeeded or failed.

For example:

• She became successful through her hard work.
• The company lost a lot of customers through poor maintenance of the products.

Ways of giving reasons in English

Due to/Owing to

‘Due to’/’owing to’ are prepositions that introduce the reason why something has happened. They are formal expressions, and they are used more in writing than in spoken English.

For example:

• The plane was delayed due to the bad weather.
• The nomination was cancelled owing to a lack of interest.

Thanks to

‘Thanks to’ is a positive equivalent of ‘because of’. It introduces a cause or reason, often with a good result. It can be informal or formal depending on the context.

For example:

• Thanks to your advice, I passed the exam!
• The project was a success thanks to everyone’s hard work.

Seeing that / Given that

These expressions are used to introduce a reason that is assumed to be known or obvious. They are more common in written or formal spoken English.

For example:

• Seeing that you’re not busy, could you help me for a moment?
• Given that he’s only 10 years old, he plays the piano remarkably well.

Since / As

‘Since’ and ‘as’ can both introduce reasons, often used in more formal writing or speech. They are similar to ‘because’ but usually imply the reason is already known or not the main point.

For example:

• Since it was raining, we stayed indoors.
• As she wasn’t feeling well, she decided not to come.

Tip for learners: Don’t confuse ‘since’ (for giving reasons) with ‘since’ (for time), e.g., I’ve lived here since 2010.

Learn about the difference and use of because, as and since

So that

‘So that’ introduces a purpose or goal and is often followed by a modal verb such as can, could, will, would.

For example:

• I explained everything clearly so that everyone could understand.
• He works overtime so that he can afford a holiday.

With the aim of / With a view to

These are more advanced, formal expressions used to express purpose or intention, often followed by a gerund (-ing form).

For example:

• She enrolled in the course with the aim of improving her English.
• The company launched a campaign with a view to boosting sales.

Learn words and phrases for sequencing ideas here

Learn about time conjunctions here

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