Explanation
Use "because" to give a reason. It links one main idea to the reason for it.
For example, "I stayed home because it was raining." In this sentence, "I stayed home" is the main idea. "because" introduces the reason, and "it was raining" is the reason clause. In Japanese, you often say "〜から" or "〜ので". English can also put the reason first, as in "Because it was raining, I stayed home."
"because" は理由を言うときに使います。1つの中心となる文に、その理由をつなぎます。
たとえば、"I stayed home because it was raining." です。この文では、"I stayed home" が中心の文です。"because" が理由を導き、"it was raining" が理由の文です。日本語では「〜から」「〜ので」と言うことが多いです。英語では理由を先に置いて、"Because it was raining, I stayed home." とも言えます。
Examples
- I'm late because the train was slow. 電車が遅れたので、遅れました。
- She is at home because she has a cold. 彼女は風邪をひいているので、家にいます。
- Why are you smiling? Is it because you got good news? どうして笑っているの？ いい知らせがあったから？
- We didn't go out because it was too hot. 暑すぎたので、外出しませんでした。
- I brought an umbrella because it looked like rain. 雨が降りそうだったので、傘を持ってきました。
- Because I was tired, I went to bed early. 疲れていたので、早く寝ました。
Common Mistakes
Japanese learners often write "Because it was raining, so I stayed home." Do not use "because" and "so" together here. Say "Because it was raining, I stayed home." or "It was raining, so I stayed home." Another common mistake is "I stayed home because rain." After "because", use a full clause with a subject and a verb, like "because it was raining."
日本語の「〜だから」をそのまま訳して、"Because it was raining, so I stayed home." のように "because" と "so" を両方入れてしまうことがよくあります。英語ではどちらか一つだけ使います。"Because it was raining, I stayed home." または "It was raining, so I stayed home." にします。もう1つよくあるのは、"I stayed home because rain." のように "because" の後ろを名詞だけにすることです。"because" の後ろには、"because it was raining" のように主語と動詞のある文が必要です。