because の基本
because の後ろには、主語と動詞のある文が続きます。
I stayed home because it was raining.（雨が降っていたので、私は家にいました）
She was happy because she passed the test.（彼女はテストに合格したのでうれしかった）
We took a bus because the station was far.（駅が遠かったので、私たちはバスに乗りました）
because を文の前に出す形
Because + 理由, 結果. の形もあります。because 節を前に出すときは、英語ではコンマを置くことが多いです。
- Because it was raining, I stayed home.
- Because she passed the test, she was happy.
- Because the station was far, we took a bus.
- × Because I was tired. だけでは、理由だけで終わっている。
- ○ I went to bed early because I was tired.
- ○ Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
so の基本
so は「だから」と結果を続けるときに使います。
It was raining, so I stayed home.（雨が降っていた。だから私は家にいました）
She passed the test, so she was happy.（彼女はテストに合格した。だからうれしかった）
The station was far, so we took a bus.（駅が遠かった。だからバスに乗りました）
because と so の違い
| 表現 | 文の流れ | 例 |
|---|---|---|
| because | 結果 → 理由 | I was late because the train was crowded. |
| so | 理由 → 結果 | The train was crowded, so I was late. |
- × Because the train was crowded, so I was late.
- ○ Because the train was crowded, I was late.
- ○ The train was crowded, so I was late.
日本語から英語にするときの考え方
- 「〜なので、...」と理由から始まる日本語は、Because ... , ... にしやすい。
- 「〜だった。だから...」と結果を続ける日本語は、..., so ... にしやすい。
- 英作文では、まず「理由」と「結果」を分けてから、because か so を選ぶ。
- because の後ろも so の後ろも、主語＋動詞をそろえる。
よく使う理由の語彙
- be tired：疲れている
- be busy：忙しい
- be sick：病気である、具合が悪い
- rain / snow：雨が降る／雪が降る
- miss the bus：バスに乗り遅れる
- have a test：テストがある
- need help：助けが必要である
- practice hard：一生懸命練習する
英語で使えるようにする練習
because / so は、理由と結果を入れ替えて同じ内容を言えるようにすると定着します。次のペアを音読してください。
I stayed home because it was raining.
It was raining, so I stayed home.
She studied hard because she had a test.
She had a test, so she studied hard.
We asked him because we needed help.
We needed help, so we asked him.
練習問題
- I went to bed early. I was tired.
- We stayed home. It was raining.
- She was happy. She won the game.
答えを見る
(1) I went to bed early because I was tired.
(2) We stayed home because it was raining.
(3) She was happy because she won the game.
- I was tired. I went to bed early.
- It was raining. We stayed home.
- She won the game. She was happy.
答えを見る
(1) I was tired, so I went to bed early.
(2) It was raining, so we stayed home.
(3) She won the game, so she was happy.
- Because I was busy, so I could not call you.
- I was late because missed the bus.
- It was cold, because I closed the window.
答えを見る
(1) Because I was busy, I could not call you. / I was busy, so I could not call you.
(2) I was late because I missed the bus.
(3) It was cold, so I closed the window. / I closed the window because it was cold.
- 私は疲れていたので、早く寝ました。
- 雨が降っていた。だから私たちは家にいました。
- 彼女はテストがあったので、一生懸命勉強しました。
答えを見る
(1) I went to bed early because I was tired.
(2) It was raining, so we stayed home.
(3) She studied hard because she had a test.
私は忙しかった。だからあなたに電話できませんでした。
答えを見る
I could not call you because I was busy.
I was busy, so I could not call you.
まとめ
- because：理由を後ろに足す。「〜なので」。
- so：結果を後ろに足す。「だから〜」。
- because と so は同じ文で重ねない。
- because の後ろにも、so の後ろにも、主語＋動詞を置く。
- 英作文では、理由と結果を先に分ける。