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# why

«why» in Mova's school dictionary: **A question word that asks for the reason or cause of…** — 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

adverb (why — asks for a reason); conjunction (the reason why); noun (the whys — rare); interjection (Why, hello!)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A question word that asks for the reason or cause of something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#m1)

2) Used to join a reason to a sentence: «That is why I am late.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#m2)

3) An old-fashioned word that shows surprise: «Why, it's you!» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#m3)

4) (casual) «Why not?» means yes, let's; «y» or «y tho» is texting for why. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#m4)

5) (casual) «Why me?» is a complaint about bad luck; «why oh why» shows despair. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#m5)

6) (rough) «Why the hell…?» or «why on earth…?» shows anger or shock: «Why the hell did you eat all 8?» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#m6)

7) (formal) «For what reason», «on what grounds», «account for» and «identify the principal reason for» are stiff ways to ask why: «Account for the observed change.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#m7)

### sense in the lessons

In science, «why» questions ask for causes and explanations: why the sky is blue, why ice floats. In maths, «Explain why» means show your reasoning, not just the answer. In stories, a «why» question often starts the mystery. In casual talk: «y tho», «why not», «why u late». In the exam voice: «Identify the principal reason for…», «Justify your answer», «Account for…». Phrases: why not, that is why, the reason why, why on earth, how and why.

### examples

- Why is the sky blue? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x1)
- Why did you leave the door open? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x2)
- That is why we wear helmets. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x3)
- Explain why your answer is correct. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x4)
- I don't know why the plant died. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x5)
- Why not try again tomorrow? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x6)
- Why, what a lovely surprise! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x7)
- Nobody knows why the dog barked. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x8)
- why u late, bus was at 8:40 (casual) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x9)
- «Pizza?» «Why not!» (casual) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x10)
- Why the hell did you eat all 8 cookies? (rough) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x11)
- Identify the principal reason for the evaporation of water from an open vessel. (formal exam) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x12)
- "Why are you knocking me about?" [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/#x13)

### note

«Why» questions are answered with «because». «Explain why» in a test wants a reason, not just a number. Do not confuse with «which» or «what». In a question the verb comes before the subject: «Why are you sad?» not «Why you are sad?» (but casual talk often says «why you sad?»). «Why» does not change the numbers in a maths problem; it asks you to give the reason. «Why not?» is often a yes. Formal «justify» and «account for» = say why.

### In the corpora

- [Knowing this helps you understand why a family's week is planned round a piece of paper on the fridge.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/2-shifts-nights-and-other-ways-of-working/4/)
- [«Third time this week» is nobody's count, and why he parks there is his business until somebody simply asks him.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/41-our-street-who-parked-where-and-who-won-what/11/)
- [How much money a family has, why someone is at home on a weekday, and who visits whom are private.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/41-our-street-who-parked-where-and-who-won-what/18/)
- [An ambulance outside a house tells you someone needed help, not who or why; offer help, not guesses.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/41-our-street-who-parked-where-and-who-won-what/21/)
- [Drink, they'll be saying." Mum gently: "His family haven't said why, Mam.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/48-famous-people-are-people/5/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «why» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/why/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.