Causal clauses give the reason for a fact or for what is said with porque, ya que, puesto que and debido a que. An asserted reason takes the indicative, and ya que and puesto que put it before or after the main clause: Ya que vas al centro, compra pan.
No information at the current level. This view starts at B2: choose B2 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at B2: choose B2 or a higher level.
CheatsheetB2–C2
| Point | Rule | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After the main clause | porque and debido a que come after the main clause | Salgo temprano porque mañana tengo examen. | I'm leaving early because I have an exam tomorrow. | B2 |
| Before or after | ya que and puesto que present a known fact | Puesto que nadie protestó, se aprobó el plan. | Given that nobody objected, the plan was approved. | B2 |
| Two kinds of reason | without a comma, the reason for the fact; with a comma, the reason for what is said | Cierro la ventana porque hace frío. / Cierra la ventana, porque hace frío. | I'm closing the window because it's cold. / Close the window, because it's cold. | B2 |
| More linkers | gracias a que gives a favorable reason; por culpa de que, an unfavorable one | Gracias a que me avisaste, llegué a tiempo. / Perdimos el tren por culpa de que el taxi llegó tarde. | Thanks to your warning, I arrived on time. / We missed the train because the taxi was late. | C1 |
| Emphatic reason | porque before the main clause stresses the reason | Porque habla cuatro idiomas, lo contrataron. | It was because he speaks four languages that they hired him. | C1 |
| Negation | after no, the indicative negates the verb and the subjunctive negates the reason | No se va porque llueve. ≠ No se va porque llueva, sino porque es tarde. | He isn't leaving, because it's raining. ≠ He is leaving not because it's raining, but because it's late. | C1 |
| Spoken language | que gives the reason after a comma, in a colloquial register | Apúrate, que perdemos el tren. | Hurry up, we'll miss the train. | C2 |
| Excessive reason | de tanto … como presents the reason as excessive | No se veía el suelo de tantas hojas como había. | There were so many leaves that you couldn't see the ground. | C2 |
| Question | the reason being asked about takes the subjunctive | ¿Es que te callas porque esté tu jefe delante? | Are you keeping quiet because your boss is there? | C2 |
| Trap | an asserted reason takes the indicative | Ya que sabes tanto, explícalo tú. | Since you know so much, you explain it. | B2 |
| Trap | debido a que takes the preposition a | Se retrasó debido a que había niebla. | He was delayed because there was fog. | B2 |
Reason for the fact and for the speech actB2
| Type | Explains | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reason for the fact | why what the main clause says happens | Cierro la ventana porque hace frío. / El vuelo se retrasó debido a que había niebla. | I'm closing the window because it's cold. / The flight was delayed because there was fog. | B2 |
| Reason for the speech act | why the main clause is said: an order, advice or a deduction | Cierra la ventana, porque hace frío. / Ya llegaron, porque veo la luz encendida. | Close the window, because it's cold. / They've arrived, because I can see the light on. | B2 |
- An asserted reason is a real fact, so the verb is in the indicative. Se negó debido a que no le habían avisado. / Ya que sabes tanto, explícalo tú.He refused because he hadn't been told. / Since you know so much, you explain it.
- A comma sets off the reason for the speech act; the reason for the fact takes none.
- A reason placed first is separated from the main clause by a comma. Puesto que nadie protestó, se aprobó el plan. / Ya que vives cerca, pasa por mi casa.Given that nobody objected, the plan was approved. / Since you live nearby, drop by my house.
LinkersB2–C2
| Linker | Use | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| porque | after the main clause; in every register | Salgo temprano porque mañana tengo examen. | I'm leaving early because I have an exam tomorrow. | B2 |
| debido a que | after the main clause; formal | El partido se suspendió debido a que llovía mucho. | The match was called off because it was raining heavily. | B2 |
| ya que | before or after; a known fact; neutral | Ya que vives cerca, pasa por mi casa. / Pasa por mi casa, ya que vives cerca. | Since you live nearby, drop by my house. / Drop by my house, since you live nearby. | B2 |
| puesto que | before or after; a known fact; more formal and written | Puesto que nadie protestó, se aprobó el plan. / Se aprobó el plan, puesto que nadie protestó. | Given that nobody objected, the plan was approved. / The plan was approved, given that nobody objected. | B2 |
| a causa de que | before or after; formal, in written language | A causa de que nevó, cerraron la carretera. / Cerraron la carretera a causa de que nevó. | Because it snowed, they closed the road. / They closed the road because it snowed. | C1 |
| gracias a que | before or after; a favorable reason | Gracias a que me avisaste, llegué a tiempo. / Llegué a tiempo gracias a que me avisaste. | Thanks to your warning, I arrived on time. / I arrived on time thanks to your warning. | C1 |
| por culpa de que | before or after; an unfavorable reason | Por culpa de que el taxi llegó tarde, perdimos el tren. / Perdimos el tren por culpa de que el taxi llegó tarde. | Because the taxi was late, we missed the train. / We missed the train because the taxi was late. | C1 |
| que | after the main clause and a comma; colloquial | Apúrate, que perdemos el tren. | Hurry up, we'll miss the train. | C2 |
| de tanto … como | after the main clause; the reason is excessive and the main clause states its effect | No se veía el suelo de tantas hojas como había. | There were so many leaves that you couldn't see the ground. | C2 |
Emphatic reason and negationC1–C2
| Pattern | Meaning | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| porque + reason + main clause | the reason comes first and stands out | Porque habla cuatro idiomas, lo contrataron. | It was because he speaks four languages that they hired him. | C1 |
| solo porque + reason | the reason is the only one | Te ayudo solo porque eres mi amigo. | I'm helping you only because you're my friend. | C1 |
| no + verb + porque + indicative verb | the main verb is negated: the fact does not happen, and the reason explains why | No se va porque llueve. | He isn't leaving, because it's raining. | C1 |
| no + verb + porque + subjunctive verb | the reason is negated: the fact happens for another reason | No se va porque llueva, sino porque es tarde. | He is leaving not because it's raining, but because it's late. | C1 |
| porque + subjunctive verb | in a question about the reason, the subjunctive does not assert it | ¿Es que te callas porque esté tu jefe delante? | Are you keeping quiet because your boss is there? | C2 |
| acaso no + verb + porque + subjunctive verb | the negative question assumes that it is the reason | ¿Acaso no te callas porque esté tu jefe delante? | Aren't you keeping quiet because your boss is there? | C2 |
- The subjunctive and negation: see Subjunctive for Wishes, Doubt and Opinions.
Typical errorsB2–C2
| Wrong | Right | Rule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Se retrasó debido que había niebla. | Se retrasó debido a que había niebla. | debido a que takes the preposition a | B2 |
| Ya que sepas tanto, explícalo tú. | Ya que sabes tanto, explícalo tú. | an asserted reason takes the indicative | B2 |
| Perdimos el tren por culpa que el taxi llegó tarde. | Perdimos el tren por culpa de que el taxi llegó tarde. | por culpa de que takes the preposition de | C1 |
| No se veía el suelo de tantas hojas que había. | No se veía el suelo de tantas hojas como había. | the excessive reason with de takes como, not que | C2 |