から (3)

Conjunction (Basic ㊦ 179)

A subordinate conjunction which expresses a reason or a cause.

Equivalent: So; since; because

来年日本へ行くから日本語を勉強している・います。
I'm studying Japanese because I'm going to Japan next year.
A:どうして日本語を勉強しているん（だ・ですか）。  B:来年日本へ行くからだ・です。
A: Why are you studying Japanese?  B: It's because I'm going to Japan next year.
春子は十七だからまだお酒を飲めない。
Haruko is seventeen, so she can't drink sake yet.
今日は忙しいですから明日来て下さい。
Please come tomorrow because I'm busy today.
A:どうして昨日学校を休んだんですか。  B:頭が痛かったからです。
A: Why were you absent from school yesterday?  B: It was because I had a headache.

Formation

Sinformalから
{話す/話した}からBecause someone (will) talk/talked
{高い/高かった}からBecause something is/was expensive
{静かだ/静かだった}からBecause somehing is/was quiet
{先生だ/先生だった} からBecause someone is/was a teacher

Notes

1. Sentence から represents a reason or a cause. Thus, Sentence1 から Sentence2 corresponds to 'Sentence2 because/since S1', 'Because/since Sentence1, Sentence2', or 'Sentence1, so Sentence2'. Note that the order of Sentence1 and Sentence2 is not always the same in English, while in Japanese から clauses (i.e., Sentence1) always precede main clauses (i.e., Sentence2).

2. In subordinate clauses predicates are usually in the informal form. However, since the degree of subordination or dependency of Sentence1 in "Sentence1 から Sentence2" is rather low, Sentence1 may be in the formal form in very formal speech, as in Example (b).

3. When a main clause is known to the hearer from the context, the Key Sentence (B) pattern is used. In this case, the から clause must be in the informal form. The following sentence is unacceptable.

4. In question-and-answer situations as in Key Sentence (B) and Example (c), abbreviated forms are occasionally used. For example, speaker B may say (2) in the Key Sentence (B) situation.

In this sentence, the main clause 日本語を勉強しています 'I'm studying Japanese' has been omitted.