Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 8/16

～て (Reasons and Causes)

And・and so, Due to, Because of, Since, Conjunctive

Notice that Verb[て] + すみません uses this version of て

Structure

Verb［て］+ Phrase
［い］Adjective［て］+ Phrase
［な］Adjective + で + Phrase
Noun + で + Phrase

Exceptions:
いい ￫ よくて + B

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About Verb[て] + B

One of the functions that the conjunction particle て performs in Japanese is very similar to 'since', or 'due to', in English. Phrases that use this particular (A) て (B) nuance of the て-form primarily express something that is beyond the control of the speaker in the (B) statement.
To use this grammar construction, pair the て-form of a verb or い-Adjective with the (B) phrase. In the case of nouns and な-Adjectives, で (the particle) will be used instead.
  • 犯人(はんにん)が捕(つか)まって安心(あんしん)です。
    I feel safe because the criminal got caught.
  • 今日(きょう)は宿題(しゅくだい)が多(おお)くて行(い)けなかった。
    I couldn't go today because I had a lot of homework.
  • 田舎(いなか)は静(しず)かなので落(お)ち着(つ)きます。
    I can relax in the countryside because it is quiet.
  • 虫歯(むしば)で歯(は)が痛(いた)い。
    My tooth hurts because of a cavity.
Fun Fact
The 'because' nuance of て (or で) in this grammar construction is primarily influenced by the (B) phrase being something that is uncontrollable, rather than being a different meaning of the particles て, or で themselves. Literally the meaning is closer to the following:
(A) て 困(こま)る - Being troubled cannot be controlled, so (A) must have caused it.
(A) て 嬉(うれ)しい - Being happy cannot be controlled, so (A) must have caused it.
(A) て 大変(たいへん) - Having a problem cannot be controlled, so (A) must have caused it.
(A) て びっくり - Being surprised cannot be controlled, so (A) must have caused it.
(A) て 疲(つか)れている - Being worn-out cannot be controlled, so (A) must have caused it.
(A) て 心配(しんぱい) - Feeling anxiety cannot be controlled, so (A) must have caused it.
Many other words, such as the ones listed above will cause て (or で) to have a similar nuance. てすみません also uses this meaning of て, as すみません is a feeling that the speaker cannot control, relating to the situation being left unfinished.

Examples

  • 「お菓子(かし)をたくさん食(た)べてお腹(なか)が痛(いた)いよ。」

    'I ate many sweets and I have an upset stomach!' ('I have an upset stomach because I ate many sweets')

  • 部屋(へや)が綺麗(きれい)でのんびりできます。

    I can relax because the room is clean. (The room is clean and I can relax)

  • メアリーがアメリカに帰(かえ)って悲(かな)しいです。

    Mary returned to the USA and I am sad. (I am sad because Mary returned to the USA)

  • 勇者(ゆうしゃ)さまは５年(ねん)前(まえ)に、交通事故(こうつうじこ)で死(し)んだ。

    The hero died due to a car accident 5 years ago. (The hero got into a car accident 5 years ago and died)

    The noun preceding で is an event (often negative) that is beyond the control of the speaker or writer. It cannot be rephrased to から or ので.

  • 日本語(にほんご)能力試験(のうりょくしけん)に合格(ごうかく)して嬉(うれ)しかったです。

    I passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, so I was glad.

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Verb[て] + B – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (16 in total)

  • lorenzosama

    lorenzosama

    About 6 months ago

    Thank you for the response. I think I sort of understand but I want to make sure I’m really getting it. I’m not sure I understand what the difference is between “because it’s raining” vs “due to the rain”. I think my understanding now is that ので should be working on full sentences but the particle で by itself can be used to add context to the verb within the sentence?

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    About 6 months ago

    I don’t think there is a big difference in meaning. That’s why bunpro will not mark you wrong if you enter なので. It just asks for a different answer because it wants to make sure you remember this grammar point, and not just any way to say “because”.

  • electrosuccess

    electrosuccess

    About 5 months ago

    In example " 先週、インフルエンザに___、仕事を休んだのです。", the verb to be conjugated is “かかる”. The hint says that it’s ichidan verb. However, the correct answer is かかって, not かかて. According to jisho, it is a godan verb, so it appears that the hint is wrong. Is that right?

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