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ADVANCED
ALTERNATIVES FOR
'BECAUSE' & 'BECAUSE OF'
VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR LESSON

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GRAMMAR REMINDER
Because is a conjunction.
Because is followed by a subject and a verb.
Because of is a preposition.
Because of is followed by a noun phrase OR verb-ing.

Because + subject + verb

Because + she + felt tired, she didn't go out.

Because of + noun phrase or verb-ing

Because of her tiredness she didn't go out.
Because of her feeling tired she didn't go out.

ALTERNATIVES IN CONTEXT
1 AS
'As' is a direct synonym to 'because', albeit a secondary one.

When I was a child I lived in a tiny village because my

parents loved the peaceful countryside.
=
When I was a child I lived in a tiny village as my parents
loved the peaceful countryside.

Only 60 students attended the local primary school

because it was very rural.
=
Only 60 students attended the local primary school as it
was very rural.

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2 DUE TO
'Due to' is used in place of 'because of' to describe results
and effects.

Because of this, we were blessed with a great ratio of

teachers to students.
=
Due to this, we were blessed with a great ratio of teachers
to students.

Because of the small class sizes, I had to invite the entire

school year to my birthday party! 3 boys and 4 girls!
=
Due to the small class sizes, I had to invite the entire school
year to my birthday party! 3 boys and 4 girls!

3 DUE TO THE FACT THAT

'Due to the fact that' is used in place of 'because' to
describe results and effects. It's easy to use, but it is longer
and more formal.

When I was 9 I moved up to a middle school with 500

students. I was so excited because I would get to meet new
people!
=
When I was 9 I moved up to a middle school with 500
students. I was so excited due to the fact that I would get to
meet new people!

I found this school difficult because I had never interacted

with so many people before.
=
I found this school difficult due to the fact that I had never
interacted with so many people before.

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4 SINCE
'Since' is a formal and secondary equivalent to 'because'.

Eventually I moved to a girl’s school. I hated this school

because I found the girls to be very unfriendly.

=
Eventually I moved to a girl’s school. I hated this school
since I found the girls to be very unfriendly.

Because the school was far away, I had to wake up at 6am

to get on the bus, and I didn’t get home until after 6pm.

=
Since the school was far away, I had to wake up at 6am to
get on the bus, and I didn’t get home until after 6pm.

5 AS A RESULT OF
'As a result of' is used in place of 'because of' to describe
results and effects.

I didn’t have much free time. Because of this, I lived for the
weekends.
=
I didn’t have much free time. As a result of this, I lived for
the weekends.

During this period I missed a lot of school because of an

illness called.
=
During this period I missed a lot of school as a result of an
illness called.

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6 THANKS TO
'Thanks to' is used in place of 'because of' and can present
both a negative and a positive outcome.

I recovered from the virus after 3 months, but I spent the

next 4 years suffering with severe fatigue. I became
depressed because of this.
=
I recovered from the virus after 3 months, but I spent the
next 4 years suffering with severe fatigue. I became
depressed thanks to this.

Because of the support from my family, I slowly made a full

recovery.
=
Thanks to the support from my family, I slowly made a full
recovery.

7 FOR
'For' is a formal and poetic equivalent to 'because'.

At 16 I returned to a co-educational high school. I found it

very strange to be around boys because I had spent 4 years
with girls!
=
At 16 I returned to a co-educational high school. I found it
very strange to be around boys for I had spent 4 years with
girls!

I found it hard to make friends because everyone had

known one another for years.

=
I found it hard to make friends for everyone had known one
another for years.

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8 OUT OF
'Out of' is used in place of 'because of' and is used to
explain feelings and emotion.

I focused on studying Spanish because of my desire to

escape my situation.
=
I focused on studying Spanish out of my desire to escape
my situation.

9 NOW THAT
'Now that' is an alternative for 'because' that indicates an
informal connection between the cause and the
result/effect.

Because I speak a second language, I feel so much happier

as a person.
=
Now that I speak a second language, I feel so much happier
as a person.

Activity
Fill in the gaps with A or B The answers are below.

1. I went to the shop _______ I wanted to buy some batteries.

a) as
b) due to

2. They rejected the proposal _______ it was late.

a) as a result of
b) due to the fact that

3. The concert was postponed _______ the bad weather.

a) thanks to
b) out of

4. She left early _______ her hunger.

a) thanks to
b) now that

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5. I couldn't go to the party _______ I felt ill.

a) due to the fact that
b) due to

6. She can't run _______ she has bad knees.

a) as a result of
b) since

7. He crashed his car _______ he was driving too fast.

a) now that
b) as

8. I threw it away _______ its poor quality.

a) due to
b) since

8. a)
7. b)
6. b)
5. a)
4. a)
3. a)
2. b)
1. a)

The End

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