Because & Why
This lesson will focus the meaning of because and how to use because. We will also look at the question word 'why'.
Because
We use 'because' to connect a statement with a reason for that statement.
Statement
​
I live in Paris.
​
I am fat.
​
She has a book.
​
The film was terrible.
​
My mum gets-up early.
​
He's wearing a shirt.
Reason
​
I work in Paris.
​
I eat a lot of food.
​
She's going to the library.
​
I didn't like the story.
​
She works in a school.
​
He has a job interview.
Statement + because + reason
I live in Paris because I work in Paris.
​
I am fat because I eat a lot of food.
​
She has a book because she's going to the library.
​
The film was terrible because I didn't like the story.
​
My mum gets-up early because she works in a school.
​
He's wearing a shirt because he has a job interview.
Because examples
Jane
because
wakes-up early
she wants to read the newspaper.
Jane wakes-up early because she wants to read the newspaper.
+TIME CHUNK!
Jane wakes-up early on Sunday because she wants to read the newspaper.
Tom
wears a suit
because
he works in an office.
Tom wears a suit because he works in an office.
+FREQUENCEY CHUNK!
Tom wears a suit every day because he works in an office.
Every day Tom wears a suit because he works in an office.
Billy
because
want / theme park
Billy wants to go to a theme park.
want / scary ride
he wants to go on scary rides.
Answer
Billy wants to go to a theme park because he wants to go on scary rides.
Vocabulary - verbs
see
look
watch
Click on the picture for how to use the verb.
Basic structure:
​
see + noun / noun phrase
look + preposition + noun / noun phrase
watch + noun / noun phrase
Vocabulary - nouns
I want to see a football match because they are exciting.
Let's break it down:
​
I want to see a football match
I = subject
want = verb (action or state)
to see = verb you want to do
a = one of many (there's more than one football match.
football match = noun
because
-
joins two sentences
-
second sentence explains first
they are exciting.
they = the subject has changed to football matches. Remember you are saying why you want to see a football match. The subject of the reason is the thing you want to do.
are = verb 'be'
exciting = adjective describing the subject
Because exercises
Take these jumbled sentences and connect them using 'because'.
go to / London / wants / She / to
Tower of London / to see / wants / she / the
Answer
She wants to go to London because she wants to see the Tower of London.
London / James / likes
a play / watches / he / every Friday
Answer
James likes London because every Friday he watches a play.
Lisa / musicals / like / going to / doesn't
are / boring / they
Answer
Lisa doesn't like going to musicals because they are boring.
library / Every weekend / goes to / Samantha / the
likes / she / books
Answer
Every weekend Samantha goes to the library because she likes books.
Because at the beginning
We can put the reason for the statement at the beginning of the sentence.
likes / Samantha / books
library / every weekend / goes / she / the / to
Because Samantha likes books, she goes to the library every weekend.
Commas and 'because'
​
When we use 'because' at the beginning of a sentence we add a comma (,) after the reason for the statement.
Because exercises
Because + reason + statement
Because
I
+FREQUENCEY CHUNK!
Because I am a teacher, I wear a tie every day.
Because
Jane
😃
exercising
+FREQUENCEY CHUNK!
go to the gym
Answer
Because Jane loves exercising, she goes to the gym every day.
Because
musicals
exciting
+FREQUENCEY CHUNK!
see
Answer
Because musicals are exciting, I see them every weekend.
Why?
Question word used to ask for a reason for something.
Question
Why do subject...?
Why did subject...?
Why will subject...?
Why are subject...?
Tense?
Present simple.
Answer
Past simple.
Answer
Future simple.
Answer
Present continuous.
Why examples
Why do you eat cereal for breakfast?
​
Why did you go to the gym?
​
Why will you read that book?
​
Why are you doing your homework?
Why exercises
Why will you go to see Buckingham Palace?
will...go to see
Why did she go to watch a musical?
did she go to watch
Answer
Why will they watch a football match?
will they watch
Conversation
Why do you want to go to London?
I want to go to London because of the history.
Why do you want to go to London?
We can start sentences with 'because' if it is obvious what the orignal statement is.
I want to go to London because of the history.
Why do you like looking at paintings?
Because they're interesting.
Why do you like watching football?
Because it's exciting.
Why don't you like watching football?
Because it's boring.
This is a negative question, asking why some does not verb.
​
Why didn't you go to the supermarket on Sunday?
​
Why are you not doing your homework?
​
Why don't you go to the gym every day?
+FREQUENCEY CHUNK!
+TIME CHUNK!
Mixing tenses
Statement
I live in London.
I lived in London.
I will live in London.
I am living in London.
Statement
I live in London.
I lived in London.
I will live in London.
I am living in London.
Tense?
Present simple.
Answer
Past simple.
Answer
Future simple.
Answer
Present continuous.
Reason
I work in London.
I worked in London.
I will work in London.
I am working in London.
Altogether
​
I live in London because I work in London.
​
I lived in London because I worked in London.
​
I will live in London because I will work in London.
​
I am living in London because I am working in London.
Tense
​
We have the tense of the statement matching the tense of the reason but they don't need to. The reason can be in any tense to give the sentence meaning.
I live in London because I worked in London.
Now
Past
I live in London.
Future
I worked in London.
The reason they live in London now is because they worked in London but the sentence means they do not work in London now.
I live in London because I will work in London.
Now
Past
I live in London.
Future
I will work in London.
The reason they live in London now is because they will work in London but the sentence means they do not work in London now.
I lived in London because I work in London.
Now
Past
I work in London.
Future
I lived in London.
Why is this sentence strange?
Answer
It is strange because the reason the subject lived in London is because they now work in London. The reason for the statement is strange.
Let's keep the same pattern but change the verbs.
I studied English because I want to be a teacher.
Now
I want to be a teacher.
Past
Future
I studied English.
The reason why the person studied English was so they can be an English teacher. This makes sense.
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