【Japanese grammar: conjunction】ので（node）= because: how to express reason

Sentence pattern

2021.07.232016.11.09

Sentence pattern

because conjunction reason

この記事は約4分で読めます。

You can express reason (or cause) as well as consequences (or result) in one sentence using this sentence pattern.

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目次

Sentence Pattern
Example
Note
からです
Exercise

Sentence Pattern

Sentence A = consequences, Sentence B = reason

English: Sentence A because Sentence B

Japanese: Sentence B ので Sentence A

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Example

Example

I like my mother because she is kind.

母はやさしいので私は母が好きです。

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Note

Sentence B, which is the first sentence in Japanese, usually finishes with Plain Form.

【Difference】between Verb Polite Form and Verb Plain Form

For example, 'to eat' in Polite Form is たべます and that in Plain Form is たべる. Verbs in Polite Form are used in a formal occasion and to show respect to people. Verbs in Plain Form are used amongst friends in a casual situation.

When you translate into Japanese, replace a pronoun with what it is.

In the example above, ‘she’ is actually ‘my mother’.

So you should use ‘my mother’ instead of ‘her’.

がんばる子

がんばる子

Much less pronouns are used in Japanese than English in general.

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からです

If you just want to express reason (or cause) only in a sentence, use からです.

【Japanese grammar】からです（karadesu）= It is because: how to express reason

Let's learn how to say those sentences in Japanese: It is because chocolates are yummy. It is because my mother is kind. It is because Japan is beautiful. It is because I washed dishes.

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Exercise

Task: Change into Japanese, using ので.

I like John because he is handsome.
I like a phone because it is convenient.
I don’t like tomatoes because it is not yummy.
My older sister works because she wants money.
My mother makes a cake because tomorrow is my younger sister’s birthday.

こたえ

ジョンはハンサムなので私はジョンが好きです。
電話はべんりなので私は電話が好きです。
おいしくないので私はトマトが好きじゃないです。
姉はお金がほしいのではたらきます。
明日は妹のたんじょうびなので母はケーキを作ります。

Kanji：私（わたし）、好（す）き、電話（でん・わ）、姉（あね）、お金（かね）、明日（あした）、妹（いもうと）、母（はは）、作（つく）ります

Task: Change into English.

ピザはおいしいので私はピザが好きです。
父の話はつまらないので私は父の話が好きじゃないです。
ふじ山はゆうめいなのでのぼりたいです。
けんこうにわるいので兄はあまりさけを飲みません。
動物が好きなので私はしょう来じゅういになりたいです。

Kanji：私（わたし）、好（す）き、父（ちち）、話（はなし）、ふじ山（さん）、兄（あに）、飲（の）み、動物（どう・ぶつ）、しょう来（らい）

こたえ

I like pizza because they are yummy.
I don’t like my father’s story because it is boring.
I want to climb Mt Fuji because it is famous.
My older brother does not drink rice wine (sake) much because it is unhealthy.
I want to be a vet in the future because I like animals.