Cause

What are Prepositions of Cause?

Prepositions of cause are typically grouped together with effect or reason because of their similar functionality. These prepositions are used to answer the question “why” showing the source of an event or the intent of an action. The following are the most common prepositions used to express cause: for, due to, owing to, and because of.

Here are some examples of prepositions of cause in sentences:

• Thank you for bringing us to this wonderful place. (Why are you thanking me ?)
• People come here for a relaxing afternoon. (Why do people come here?)
• Ryan can’t come in because of a bad cold. (Why can’t Ryan come in?)

Prepositions of Cause Rules

Rules	Explanation/Example
Prepositions require objects	It’s necessary for prepositions to have objects. For example: – Someone’s calling for Amanda. – Tyrone is happy because of the gift. – We can’t come due to the weather.
Placement	When the object of the preposition is a pronoun, it must always be in its objective form. The complete list of objective pronouns are as follows: me, us, you, him, her, it, and them. For example:– He traveled across the country for her. – Shane is annoyed because of them. – They broke up due to him being away all the time.
Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions	When the object of the preposition is a pronoun, it must always be in its objective form. The complete list of objective pronouns are as follows: me, us, you, him, her, it, them. For example:– He traveled across the country for her. – Shane is annoyed because of them. – They broke up due to him being away all the time.

Examples of Prepositions of Cause

1. For

• This recognition ceremony is for our city’s firefighters.
• I can’t believe you would do this for me.
• For your sake, quit while you’re ahead.
• This toast is for Tara, may you have more birthdays to come.
• We organized a small team for helping out the flood victims.

2. Because of

• Because of his costume, people didn’t recognize him at all.
• We didn’t want to but had to move because of the mold.
• Because of you, I didn’t stray too far from the sidewalk.
• Everyone’s nervous because of the earthquake.
• People were moved at the event because of Gerald’s speech.

3. Due to

• The success of his team is due to his extreme support for all members.
• Due to unforeseen circumstances, our store is closed for the day.
• Their film was well-received due to extensive marketing.
• Due to the fact that they approved production, they are accountable.
• His career went downhill due to the controversy last year.

4. Thanks to

• Thanks to Matt’s quick thinking, only a few files were corrupted.
• Our store is the new talk of the town, no thanks to you.
• Thanks to your generosity, we received more donations than we requested.
• It’s thanks to Mr. Hirota that negotiations wrapped up without a hitch.
• Thanks to Christian, we became aware of the company’s internal issues.

5. In honor of

• They gathered in the park in honor of the volunteers’ efforts.
• In honor of the Masskara Festival, we declare the program open!
• There was a tribute in honor of her son’s rescuers yesterday.
• In honor of your tireless dedication, we happily bestow this award.
• In honor of his late grandfather, they erected a shrine on Pham Street.

Prepositions of Cause Exercises with Answers

Exercise on Prepositions of Cause

Join the clauses and phrases with a preposition of cause to form a complete sentence. More than one preposition of cause is possible.

1. our wrap party

our director brought a case of wine

2. a splitting headache

Kalea couldn’t see clearly

3. the kids were happy

the presents that our group brought them

4. Tae and Allen became good friends

the many things they have in common

5. the yearbook

we collected so many alumni photos

Answers

1. Our director brought a case of wine for our wrap party.

2. Kalea couldn’t see clearly due to a splitting headache.

3. The kids were happy because of the presents that our group brought them.

4. Tae and Allen became good friends because of the many things they have in common.

5. We collected so many alumni photos for the yearbook.

Prepositions of Cause List

So far we’ve seen the most common prepositions of cause: for, because of, due to, thanks to, and in honor of. Below is a list of more prepositions of cause:

Prepositions of Cause List
by courtesy of by reason of by virtue of for the benefit of in favor of from therefore since	on account of on behalf of towards as a result of consequently as through hence

Advice for ESL Students & English Language Learners

Advice	Explanation
Use Grammar Lists	Studying English independently is an important supplement to learning in classroom setups. To experience its greatest benefits, you should utilize the proper tools. By assimilating your favorite English language films, TV shows, social media channels, music, and podcasts into your daily learning routine, you’ll get considerable perspective on how native and non-native English speakers use the language in different social, academic, and professional situations. Using them with purpose will boost your understanding of particular language elements which will ultimately improve your vocabulary acquisition and sentence construction skills.
Use Audio-Visual Resources	Studying English independently is an important supplement to learning in classroom setups. To experience its greatest benefits, you should utilize the proper tools. By assimilating your favorite English language films, TV shows, social media channels, music, and podcasts into your daily learning routine, you’ll get considerable perspective on how native and non-native English speakers use the language in different social, academic, and professional situations. Using them with purpose will boost your understanding of particular language elements that will ultimately improve your vocabulary acquisition and sentence construction skills.
Practical Use	It’s an unfortunate fact that many English students, especially ELLs, live or study in places where English isn’t widely available or used. This is a big hurdle as the only actual way to practice what you’ve learned is to use English as often as possible. If you are in a similar situation, remember that there are ways to create an environment where you can explore the English language together with others who share the same goals. You can establish discussion groups with your fellow students and friends; and whenever possible, cultivate personal relationships with both native and non-native English speakers. Constant exercise will enhance your aptitude in a meaningful way.

Common Errors Made by English Learners

The following table lists common mistakes with prepositions of cause. Study it to prevent making similar errors:

Common Errors	Explanation/Example
Of & Have	It’s a common error to hear people using “of” with verbs such as “should” or “must.” The reason is because it sounds like the word “have,” which is part of the modal verbs “should have” or “must have.” For example: Incorrect: I should of slept earlier. Correct: I should have slept earlier.
Infinitives	Prepositions are NEVER followed by verbs. Let’s look at some examples: – I like to travel. There is no preposition in the sentence. The word “to” is part of the infinitive participle “to travel.” – She feels guilty for leaving early. The word “leaving” is derived from the verb “live” but it functions as a gerund, which is used as a noun. There are many resources online that classify “to” as a preposition (which is one of its uses) but proceed to give infinitive participles as examples. This is incorrect.
Intransitive and Transitive Verbs	Prepositions can be used to establish relationships between intransitive verbs and nouns that can act as their receivers to some degree. For example: – Tae Jin played for Ron. – They danced because of the upbeat music. On the other hand, prepositions shouldn’t be used with the objects of transitive verbs. – They painted the wall. – She rang the bell. There are no prepositions in these sentences and adding them would make the sentences incorrect. Some English learners forget when to include the prepositions either because they are unaware of the necessity or they’re translating directly from their own language.

Learning Strategies and Best Practices with Prepositions of Cause

Prepositions are some of the most frequently used words in the English language. Due to their volume and variations in meaning, it can be confusing at first glance. But they are common language elements and are often used naturally because of background knowledge or previous exposure to English. The following are some best practices to observe when using prepositions of cause:

1. Keep your mind on the meanings of the sentences you want to express. This can aid you in identifying the right prepositions to use.
2. There are many prepositions, all of which can go before any noun, making almost infinite configurations. They aren’t taught individually in most books or English classes. If you find yourself uncertain about the right ones to use, use a dictionary or a list.
3. Any thought or idea can be stated in a variety of ways. This is the reason paraphrasing is a language skill. Remember that prepositions aren’t always necessary. If you’re not sure if you’re using the correct preposition, try stating your idea through sentences that don’t include it.
4. Read, practice, talk. The more prepositions you encounter and keep under your belt, the easier, more precise, and more natural your usage will be in the future.

Additionally, it is important for learners to properly understand preposition form of result and preposition form of degree.

Prepositions of Cause Frequently Asked Questions