[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/because.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / because [← B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/B/) # because «because» in Mova's school dictionary: **Because gives the reason for something: I am wet because…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech conjunction (because; because of); casual short forms (cos, coz, 'cause, bc) ### meaning for a pupil 1) Because gives the reason for something: I am wet because it rained. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#m1) 2) «Because of» comes before a noun to give the reason: The game stopped because of the rain. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#m2) 3) (casual) «Cos», «coz», «'cause» and in texts «bc» or «bcos» are short spoken or texted forms of because. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#m3) 4) (casual) «Because» alone, or «Just because», is a refusal to give a reason: «Why?» «Because I said so.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#m4) 5) (formal) The exam voice says «owing to», «due to», «on account of», «since», «in consequence of», «by virtue of» where a child would say «because». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#m5) ### sense in the lessons the student's reason: which word made it choose the operation («I add because of «more»»); in science «because» explains a cause («Ice melts because it gets warm»); in maths «explain why» answers start with «because»; in stories it links what happened to why; in casual talk and texts «cos», «'cause», «bc»; in rough talk the parent's «because I said so»; in the exam voice «owing to», «due to», «on account of», «by virtue of the fact that» ### examples - Student: I add : 9 (because of «more») [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x1) - We subtract because some cookies were eaten. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x2) - We multiply because there are 4 equal groups. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x3) - I stayed home because I was sick. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x4) - The plant died because it had no water. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x5) - We could not play outside because of the storm. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x6) - Leaves fall in autumn because the days grow cold. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x7) - She smiled because she got a gold star. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x8) - cant come cos mum says no [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x9) - only got 3 left bc my brother ate the rest [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x10) - «Why do I have to go to bed?» «Because I said so, that's why.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x11) - Owing to the inclement weather, the outing was postponed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x12) - “Because I am grown up, dearest. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/#x13) ### note In the student's answers «because of «…»» names the cue word it relied on. Trap: the named word can be a wrong cue, such as «more» in «how many more … than». «Because» answers a «why» question. Use «because of» before a noun («because of the rain»), «because» before a whole sentence («because it rained»). «cos» and «bc» mean exactly «because» and are fine in chat, not in written work. «Owing to» and «due to» in an exam give a reason; the reason itself rarely changes the numbers. ### In the corpora - [Some people go to work ill because they can't afford to lose the pay, which spreads germs to everyone else.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/2-shifts-nights-and-other-ways-of-working/12/) - [Own-brand food is often made in a similar way to famous brands but costs less because there is no big advertising.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/9-when-money-is-tight/14/) - [Saving up is slower than borrowing but cheaper, because no interest is paid.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/9-when-money-is-tight/20/) - [Families move house for many reasons: a new job, more room, a cheaper rent, or because a tenancy ends.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/10-moving-house-and-renting-a-home/0/) - ["Going out with someone" means two people are a couple who spend time together because they like each other a lot.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/13-dates-engagements-and-weddings/4/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «because» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/because/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.