Grammar · Free lesson
Because or because of? Look at the words that follow
Your class was going to meet outside. Rain changed the plan, and you need to explain why the class moved indoors. You can give the same reason in two different grammatical forms.
Professor Scott MendozaMeaning in this lesson
because and because of
Two ways to introduce a reason, using different grammatical patterns.
Example
“We moved indoors because of the rain.”
The rain was the reason we moved indoors.
The short answer
Use because before a clause with a subject and verb: “We moved indoors because it was raining.” Use because of before a noun phrase: “We moved indoors because of the rain.” Both give a reason; the words after them determine the pattern.
Choose the connector by what follows it.
A clause such as it was raining has a subject, it, and a verb phrase, was raining. The rain is a noun phrase: it names the weather without stating an action with its own subject and verb. Use because with the clause and because of with the noun phrase.
Explain the same change two ways.
We moved the class indoors because it was raining.
We moved the class indoors because of the rain.
It was raining includes a subject and verb. The rain names the reason as a noun phrase. The result—moving the class indoors—stays the same.
Check the reason phrase
Find the reason
It was raining / the rain.
Look for its subject and verb
It was raining has both, so use because.
Choose because of with the noun phrase
The rain is a noun phrase: because of the rain.
Try it now
Check what you’ve learned.
Read all answers and explanations
Complete the standard pattern: “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.”
becauseIt was raining is a clause with a subject and verb, so use because without of.
Complete the standard pattern: “The class moved indoors ___ the rain.”
because ofThe rain is a noun phrase, so because of fits before it in this standard sentence.
Which sentence preserves the reason in “We arrived late because the train was delayed”?
We arrived late because of the train delay.Because of is followed by the noun phrase the train delay. The other options mismatch the connector with what follows.
Put it into practice
Repair the reason without changing the plan.
Keep the phrase the rain and the fact that the class moved indoors. Repair only the connector so the sentence follows the standard pattern.
We moved the class indoors because the rain.
See a model answer
We moved the class indoors because of the rain.
An accurate edit repairs the connector while preserving the original cause and result. You could also use because it was raining if the task allowed you to change the reason phrase.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Can I express the same reason with either form?
Often, yes, if you change the words after the connector as well. Do not simply swap because and because of while leaving an incompatible structure after them.
“We stopped because the road was blocked.” / “We stopped because of the blockage.”
Can I give a short answer starting with Because?
Yes. In conversation, the question can supply the missing context. A short because answer can be natural even though it is not a standalone formal sentence.
“Why did you move inside?” — “Because it was raining.”
Take it into your day
Both expressions can explain why. Match because to a clause and because of to a noun phrase, while keeping the same cause and result.
Your next step · Available on Udemy
Connect your ideas with stronger sentence structure.
You’ve explained one reason in two ways. The English Grammar and English Speaking course helps you build a wider foundation in grammar and writing, with conversation examples, quizzes and downloadable practice.
Explore the course English Master Course: English Grammar and English Speaking