English Grammar: Clauses of Reason

Clauses of reason, also known as adverbial clauses of reason, are used to express the cause or reason behind an action or event. They provide an explanation for why something happens. These clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions such as “because,” “since,” “as,” or “due to.” By using clauses of reason, we can convey a cause-and-effect relationship in our sentences.

Example:

• I couldn’t attend the party because I was feeling unwell.

In this example, the clause “because I was feeling unwell” explains the reason why the person couldn’t attend the party.

Now, let’s explore various aspects of clauses of reason to enhance your understanding.

1. The Usage of Clauses of Reason

Clauses of reason can be used in various ways to express cause and effect relationships in sentences. Here are some common ways to use them:

1. Cause and effect: Clauses of reason are used to show the cause-and-effect relationship between two actions or events. Example: I ate dinner early because I was hungry.
2. Explanations: These clauses help provide explanations for actions or situations. Example: She canceled the meeting since no one else was available.
3. Justification: Clauses of reason are used to justify an action or decision. Example: I bought a new phone because my old one stopped working.
4. Indicating conditions: They can be used to indicate a condition that leads to a certain outcome. Example: If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
5. Conveying motives: Clauses of reason express the motives behind someone’s actions. Example: He donated money to charity because he wanted to help the less fortunate.

By using these clauses effectively, you can make your sentences more precise and convey the intended meaning clearly.

2. Common Subordinating Conjunctions Used in Clauses of Reason

To form clauses of reason, we use specific subordinating conjunctions. These conjunctions introduce the reason or cause in the sentence. Here are some commonly used subordinating conjunctions for clauses of reason:

• Because
• Since
• As
• For
• Seeing that
• Considering that
• Given that
• Due to
• Owing to
• On account of

These subordinating conjunctions signal that the following clause will explain the reason behind the main clause. It’s important to note that the subordinating conjunctions are followed by a subject and a verb in the clause of reason.

Example:

• He couldn’t come to the party because he had to work overtime.

In this example, “because” is the subordinating conjunction introducing the clause of reason “he had to work overtime.”

3. Examples of Clauses of Reason

To further illustrate the usage of clauses of reason, here are a few examples:

1. I went to bed early because I had an important meeting the next day.
2. Since it was raining heavily, we decided to stay indoors.
3. As I was running late, I hailed a taxi to reach the airport on time.
4. Due to his hard work, he received a promotion at work.
5. I couldn’t find my keys because I misplaced them somewhere.

By incorporating these examples, you can see how clauses of reason add clarity and explanation to the sentences.