Part 3 · Joining ideas · Lesson 26
Because, although, but: reasons and contrasts
The words that connect two ideas as cause or contrast: から, ので, のに, けど, が, し, and sentence-starters like だから and でも. What each one feels like, and how to pick.
A lot of reading is following arguments: this because that, this but that. Japanese puts the connecting word after the first idea, as a particle, so you learn what kind of link it is only as the first clause ends.
から: because (a reason you give)
Plain form + から. The reason comes first, then the result.
から sounds subjective: it puts forward your reason. It's the natural choice with requests, orders and advice:
ので: because (a fact)
Plain form + ので also means "because", but it presents the reason as a plain fact, more politely and softly.
With nouns and な-adjectives, plain だ turns into な: 学生なので, 静かなので.
| から | ので | |
|---|---|---|
| tone | personal, direct | polite, objective |
| good for | requests, advice, casual speech | polite explanations, excuses |
| after nouns | 学生だから | 学生なので |
If unsure: から in speech, ので when you want to sound considerate or formal.
だから and the sentence-starters
When the reason is its own sentence, Japanese starts the second sentence with a connecting word:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| だから | so (because of that) |
| それで | and so |
| でも | but (casual) |
| しかし | however (formal) |
| けれども | however |
| そして | and then |
| それから | after that |
| それに | what's more |
Notice how the connecting word is at the start of the second sentence, so you know where the argument is turning before you read the next clause.
けど and が: but
Plain form + けど (casual) or けれども (formal) or が (written) mean "but" or "though".
けど can also be a soft lead-in without any real "but":
That softening けど is everywhere in conversation, and it just shows politeness, not contrast.
のに: even though (with feeling)
Plain form + のに means "even though", and always has a note of surprise, disappointment or complaint.
Unlike けど, the second half of a のに sentence is not a request or an order, but a statement showing how things turned out unexpectedly. It conveys "and that's not fair / not what I expected".
し: one reason among others
Plain form + し lists reasons, giving the sense of "and besides". The speaker is piling up evidence for an unstated conclusion.
You'll often see し left trailing, with no conclusion stated: 安いし、おいしいし... The listener finishes the thought.
For nouns and な-adjectives
The connectors attach to plain forms. With だ they change a little:
| Noun / な-adj | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| から | だから (stays) | 学生だから |
| ので | なので | 学生なので |
| のに | なのに | 学生なのに |
| けど | だけど | 学生だけど |
Longer sentences
Arguments are made of reasons and contrasts. Watch which connector governs which clause.
A balanced review
Key points
- から: personal reason. ので: objective, polite reason.
- けど / が: but. のに: even though (with surprise or complaint).
- し: one reason among others.
- Sentence starters: だから, でも, しかし, それに, それで.
- ので / のに take な after nouns and な-adjectives.
Drill these patterns
Short example sentences for the points in this lesson: