Exprimer la cause
1 · Parce que: answer “why?”
The everyday choice for giving a reason. Follow it with a clause: a subject and a conjugated verb.
— Pourquoi prends-tu le bus ? — Parce que ma voiture est en panne.“Why are you taking the bus?” “Because my car has broken down.”
Je prends le bus parce que ma voiture est en panne.I’m taking the bus because my car has broken down.
2 · Puisque: start from a reason treated as given
“Since” or “seeing as”. It often supports a suggestion, decision or request.
Puisque tu connais le quartier, peux-tu nous guider ?Since you know the neighbourhood, can you guide us?
Puisque le bus est là, montons !Since the bus is here, let’s get on!
3 · Car: add an explanation
Often used in careful writing, and also possible in speech. Put the statement first, then the explanation.
Nous prenons le train, car il est moins polluant.We’re taking the train because it causes less pollution.
Je garde le reçu, car il contient le numéro de réservation.I’m keeping the receipt because it contains the booking number.
4 · Watch the apostrophe
Write parce qu’il and puisqu’elle before a vowel. Car stays complete.
| parce qu’il pleut | because it is raining |
| puisqu’elle est ici | since she is here |
| car il pleut | because it is raining |
Nous restons ici parce qu’il pleut.We’re staying here because it is raining.
5 · A noun needs a noun pattern
For “because of the rain”, use à cause de la pluie. For a helpful cause, grâce à means “thanks to”.
Le match est reporté à cause de la pluie.The match is postponed because of the rain.
Grâce à ton aide, nous avons terminé.Thanks to your help, we have finished.
6 · Turn the reason into a result with donc
Keep the same two facts and change their order: parce que introduces the reason; donc introduces the result.
Je prends le bus parce que ma voiture est en panne.I’m taking the bus because my car has broken down.
Ma voiture est en panne, donc je prends le bus.My car has broken down, so I’m taking the bus.