GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsLanguage Conventions and UsageEasy
A student is writing an email to a professor and needs to use the correct word for showing cause and effect. Which sentence correctly uses 'because'?
- ABecause of the heavy rain, the event was postponed.
- BHe succeeded, because he worked hard.
- CI was late, because the bus broke down.
- DThe project was delayed, because of a lack of resources.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. He succeeded, because he worked hard.
Option D correctly uses 'because' to introduce a subordinate clause that explains the reason for the main clause's action. 'Because' directly connects an action to its cause. Option A is a comma splice, B uses 'because of' as a prepositional phrase, and C is also a comma splice.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This option uses 'because of' as a prepositional phrase, not 'because' as a subordinating conjunction introducing a clause.
- C. This option is technically a comma splice if 'because' is treated as a coordinating conjunction here; typically, no comma is needed before 'because' when it introduces an essential clause.
- D. This option is a comma splice; 'because of a lack of resources' is a prepositional phrase, and a comma isn't typically used before it.
Using 'Because'
'Because' is a subordinating conjunction used to introduce a subordinate clause that states the reason or cause for the action in the main clause.
- Connects a cause to an effect.
- Introduces a subordinate (dependent) clause.
- Usually no comma needed if the 'because' clause is essential to the meaning.
- If the 'because' clause begins the sentence, a comma follows it.
Memory trick: Because explains why, making connections fly.