Because Construction

We have looked at sentences with “because” having a subject right after it. However, these are not the only structures possible. Here are additional structures:

• “Because” + conditional: “You should study harder because if you want to excel, you need to focus more.”
• “Because” + subordinate clause + independent clause: “I trust you because wherever you go, you always keep your promises.”
• “Because” + Wh- clause: “I believe you, because what you said was entirely true.”
• “Because” + noun or noun phrase (informal usage): “Why did she leave the party early?” “Because she was feeling unwell!”
• “Because” used as an interjection: “Why didn’t you call?” “Because!” “That’s not a proper reason. Tell me, what’s the real reason?” “Just because, alright?!”

Examples

The word “because” answers the question “Why?”

“Why didn’t you attend the meeting?”

Because I was ill. (My illness was the reason I didn’t attend the meeting.)

“Why is he so quiet?”

Because he is upset. (The reason for his silence is his unhappiness.)

“Because of” provides a reason with a noun or noun phrase.

“Why was Neha absent?”

Because of a family emergency. (The reason for Neha’s absence was a family emergency.)

“Why did they close the shop early?”

Because of a power outage. (The reason for the early closure was a power outage.)

Difference Between “Because” and “Because of”

“Because” is followed by a subject and a verb, while “because of” is followed by a noun or a phrase. Here are examples to illustrate this difference:

“The match was postponed because the coach was sick.”

“The match was postponed because of the coach’s illness.”

“In the first sentence, “because” is followed by a subject and a verb, expressing a complete thought. In the second sentence, “because of” is followed by a phrase that serves as the reason.”

Usage of “Because”

Use “because” to provide a reason that includes a subject and a verb. It is synonymous with “due to the fact that.” Examples:

• “We need someone to water the plants because we will be on vacation for two weeks.”
• “Because you declined the offer, we won’t be able to process the request immediately.”

Quick Note on Using Commas with “Because”

Commas are typically not used before “because.” However, if “because” introduces extra information, a comma is optional. Examples:

No comma: “I did it because I wanted to.” (“Because I wanted to” is essential to the sentence.)

Comma: “The concert was cancelled, because the venue was double-booked.” (The comma can be used if the reason is considered additional information.)

Usage of “Because of”

Use “because of” when the reason is a noun or noun phrase. It is synonymous with “due to” and “as a result of.” Examples:

• “She won the award because of her outstanding performance.”
• “The picnic was cancelled because of the rain.”
• “Because of his dedication, he achieved great success.”
• “I stayed home because of my fear of crowds.”
• “We left early because of the heavy traffic.” (gerund)
• “Because of the intense training, she was ready for the competition.” (adjective + gerund)
• “I changed my plans because of your advice.”
• “Don’t let anyone judge you because of your past mistakes.”

Mistakes

Common mistakes made by English learners regarding “because” and “because of” include:

• Incorrect: “It was raining. Because that, we went home early.”
  Correct: “It was raining. Because of that, we went home early.”
• Incorrect: “I couldn’t attend the event because my schedule.”
  Correct: “I couldn’t attend the event because of my schedule.”
• Incorrect: “It was because of she.” / “It was because of he.”
  Correct: “It was because of her.” / “It was because of him.”
• Incorrect: “We didn’t go out because of not having enough time.”
  Correct: “We didn’t go out because of not having enough time.”