because

Learn American English Online |Violet Level

Violet Level

Lesson Four

Because / Because of

"Because" and "because of" are used to give reasons or to indicate the source of a situation. They answer questions asked with the word "why." "Because" is used with clauses. "Because of" is used with phrases and, sometimes, single words.

examples

He's starting to get nervous because he has so much work to do and not enough time to finish it all.

(A subject and a verb come after "because.")

He's feeling a lot of stress because of his job.

(A prepositional phrase comes after "because of.")

The World Trade Center fell down because it was attacked by terrorists.

("...it was attacked by terrorists" is a clause. Subject = it; verb = was attacked)

The World Trade Center fell down because of a terrorist attack.

("...of a terrorist attack" is a prepositional phrase.)

I make a lot of mistakes spending money in other countries because the money is so different.

I'm not sure how to spend money in other countries because of the value of the currency.

Because the world climate is changing, polar bears are in danger of becoming extinct.

(It's okay to begin a sentence with "because" if you are making a complex sentence.)

Because of climate change, polar bears are facing extinction.