ワードアップ英会話 WORD UP ENGLISH CLASS | 日記 | Common mistakes: "because" and "so"

It's easy for students to mistake the difference between the words "because" and "so."

"Because" and "so" both mean the same thing, and both words show the reason or cause of an action or event.

The difference is that "because" points to the reason at the end of the sentence, but "so" points to the reason at the beginning of the sentence.


Here are two example situations:


ACTION/EVENT (A)
I brought my umbrella.

REASON/CAUSE (B)
It rained.

"I brought my umbrella because it rained."

...and...

"It rained, so I brought my umbrella."

...mean the same thing.


-AND-



ACTION/EVENT (A)
I took a taxi home.

REASON/CAUSE (B)
I missed the last train.

"I took a taxi home because I missed the last train."

...and...

"I missed the last train, so I took a taxi home."

...mean the same thing.



As you can see, the basic pattern is:


ACTION/EVENT because REASON/CAUSE
...is the same as...
REASON/CAUSE so ACTION/EVENT


Or more simply:


A because B  = B so A