N5 · Linking clauses
Giving a reason with から and ので
から and ので (reasons)
The reason comes first, then から or ので, then what follows from it.
To give a reason, Japanese puts the reason first and joins it to the result with から or ので: 雨が降っているから、出かけません, "it is raining, so I am not going out". English usually says it the other way round — "I am not going out because it is raining" — and a learner who follows the English order puts the result in the wrong place.
から is the everyday word. It presents the reason as the speaker's own judgement, so it fits easily with requests, invitations, warnings and decisions: 危ないから、気をつけてください. After a noun or na-adjective it needs だ: 日曜日だから, 静かだから.
ので sounds softer and more objective, as if the reason were a fact both speakers can see. That makes it the natural choice for excuses and polite explanations, especially to someone senior: 熱があるので、今日は休みます. After a noun or na-adjective it takes な, not だ: 日曜日なので.
Both attach to the plain form. In polite speech the last verb of the sentence carries ます, and that is enough; から may also follow a polite form, which sounds a little more formal. Do not confuse this から with "from": after a noun on its own (駅から) it means "from"; after a clause or after だ (駅だから) it means "because".
The form
| It's raining, so I'm not going out. | 雨が降っているから、出かけません。 |
| I have a temperature, so I'll stay off today. | 熱があるので、今日は休みます。 |
| after an i-adjective | 高いから・高いので |
| after a na-adjective | 静かだから・静かなので |
| after a noun | 日曜日だから・日曜日なので |
| after a polite form | 時間がありませんから |
| answering "why?" | 〜からです |
The rules one by one
The reason comes first and the result after it.
疲れたから、早く寝ます。I'm tired, so I'm going to bed early.
After a noun or na-adjective, から takes だ and ので takes な.
今日は休みなので、家にいます。Today is a day off, so I'm staying at home.
ので sounds softer and suits excuses and polite explanations.
道が混んでいたので、遅れました。The roads were busy, so I was late.
To answer "why?", end with からです; ので cannot be used this way.
頭が痛かったからです。Because I had a headache.
With a request, a warning or a strong opinion, から is the natural choice.
危ないから、気をつけてください。It's dangerous, so please be careful.
A closer look
Leaving the result unsaid
A sentence can end on から, with the result left for the listener to supply: すぐ戻りますから。 is "I'll be right back (so wait / so don't worry)". This is very common and sounds natural, not unfinished.
It is also how Japanese reassures or warns without spelling out the consequence: 明日は早いですから。 said at the end of an evening means "I have an early start tomorrow" and politely implies "so I'll be going". ので can end a sentence in the same way, and sounds even softer.
How to spot it
- 〜から、
- 〜ので、
- 〜だから
- 〜なので
- 〜からです
- どうして
- なぜ
Example sentences
時間がないから、タクシーで行きましょう。We don't have much time, so let's take a taxi.
この店は安いから、学生が多いです。This shop is cheap, so there are lots of students.
明日は試験があるので、今晩は勉強します。I have an exam tomorrow, so I'll study tonight.
日曜日なので、銀行は休みです。It's Sunday, so the bank is closed.
寒いから、窓を閉めてください。It's cold, so please close the window.
どうして日本語を勉強しているんですか。—日本の映画が好きだからです。Why are you learning Japanese? — Because I like Japanese films.
7 more example sentences
お腹が空いたから、何か食べましょう。I'm hungry, so let's eat something.
部屋が静かなので、よく眠れました。The room was quiet, so I slept well.
電車が止まったので、会社に遅れました。The trains stopped, so I was late for work.
子供が寝ているから、静かにしてください。The children are asleep, so please be quiet.
今日は暑いから、海に行きませんか。It's hot today, so shall we go to the beach?
すみません、用事があるので、先に帰ります。Sorry, I have something to do, so I'll leave first.
彼は親切だから、みんなに好かれています。He is kind, so everybody likes him.
Worth knowing (1)
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だから at the start of a sentence
だから can open a new sentence and means "so" or "that is why", pointing back to what was just said. In polite speech it becomes ですから. Said with emphasis, だから can also sound impatient — "that is what I said!" — so it is worth using gently.
昨日は雨でした。ですから、試合は中止になりました。It rained yesterday. So the match was called off.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
After a noun or a na-adjective, から and ので take different linking words: 雨だから but 雨なので. だので does not exist. The な is the same one that appears before a noun, because ので grew out of の plus で.
Reason first, result second: だから after a noun, but なので.
Your turn
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