因Linking sentences
Because
Give a reason. から is direct and personal, ので is softer and sounds more objective, and the reason always comes first.
The pattern
Reason first, then the result
The reason
雨が降っているからAme ga futte iru karaBecause it's raining…
The result
行きません。Ikimasen.…I'm not going.
Two ways
から and ので
It's hot, so please open the window.
から can go before a request, suggestion, or opinion.
The train was late, so I got in late.
ので presents the reason as a plain fact, so it suits explanations and apologies.
Forms
What goes before each
Note how だ turns to な before ので.
| Before it | から | ので |
|---|---|---|
| Verb or い adjective | 行くから, 高いから | 行くので, 高いので |
| な adjective | 静かだから | 静かなので |
| Noun | 学生だから | 学生なので |
Choosing
Which fits?
ので sounds polite and reasonable, as if anyone would agree, so it doesn't sit well before a command or a personal guess. から has no such limit. You can also answer a “why?” with から alone: どうしてですか。寒いからです, “Why? Because it's cold.”
Across two sentences
それで
それで starts a new sentence that follows from the last.
I didn't sleep yesterday. That's why I'm sleepy.
He's busy. So that's why he didn't come.
Not to be confused
A one-sound difference
I stayed home because of the rain.
で follows a noun.
It was raining, so I stayed home.
から follows a whole sentence, so it needs だ.
Your turn
から or ので?
It's dangerous, so please don't touch.
Check yourself
Which part is the reason?
Find the mistake
Tap the part that's wrong.
。
Say it yourself
Calling in
You're calling your boss to say you can't come in today. You have a fever.
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