Causal Conjunctions: porque, ya que, puesto que, como

Spanish: Conjunciones causales: porque, ya que, puesto que, como

Level: B1 Intermediate

Category: conjunctions

Explanation

Causal conjunctions are used to express the cause or reason for something. They answer the question why? and connect two ideas: an action or situation and its reason. The most common ones in Spanish are porque, ya que, puesto que and como. Although they all indicate cause, they are not used in the same way or in the same position within the sentence. The conjunction porque is the most common and neutral. It always goes in the middle of the sentence, never at the beginning, and introduces the cause after the effect: No salí porque llovía (I did not go out because it was raining). It is the only one that directly answers a question with why? The conjunctions ya que and puesto que introduce a cause that the speaker presents as already known or obvious. They are more formal than porque and can go at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence: Ya que estás aquí, ayúdame (Since you are here, help me). Puesto que is the most formal of all and appears mainly in written language. The conjunction como expresses cause only when it goes at the beginning of the sentence, presenting the cause before the consequence: Como llovía, no salí (Since it was raining, I did not go out). If it goes in the middle of the sentence, como loses its causal meaning and means something else (manner or comparison).

Examples

• No puedo pagar con tarjeta porque la máquina no funciona. - I cannot pay by card because the machine is not working.
• Como no quedan habitaciones libres, tendré que buscar otro hotel. - Since there are no rooms left, I will have to look for another hotel.
• Compro fruta aquí porque siempre está muy fresca. - I buy fruit here because it is always very fresh.
• Ya que tienes la entrada, puedes pasar directamente a la sala. - Since you have the ticket, you can go straight into the hall.
• Perdí el tren puesto que el taxi llegó demasiado tarde. - I missed the train since the taxi arrived too late.