GRAMMAR DETAIL
で
Follows a noun to indicate the cause of the event or state that follows.
Examples
大雪で電車が運休になりました。
Train service was suspended because of heavy snow.
Words used
病気で学校を休みました。
I missed school because I was ill.
Words used
強い風で試合が中止になりました。
The game was canceled because of strong winds.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Add
でafter a noun identifying a cause.大雪で,病気で,強い風で
- Basic usage: It identifies what caused an event or state.
- In
病気で学校を休みました。, illness is the reason for missing school.
- In
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Nouns and clauses
- This use of
でattaches to a noun. A verb clause such as雨が降ったからinstead connects a reason usingからorので.
- This use of
- Distinct from place and means
- In
学校で勉強する,でmarks a place; in電車で行く,でmarks a means. Identical spelling does not make every use causal.
- In
- Causes and the speaker's judgment
- Causal
でis often used to explain the occurrence of an event or a state. When a clause gives the reason for a suggestion or command,からorのでmay be more suitable.
- Causal