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?)
lillypad english learning app banner

Prepositions of Cause Rules

RulesExplanation/Example
Prepositions require objectsIt’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.
PlacementWhen 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 PrepositionsWhen 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.
Table of Rules for Prepositions of Cause
lillypad english language software CTA

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.
lillypad english learning app banner

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.

lillypad english language software CTA

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
Prepositions of Cause Table

Advice for ESL Students & English Language Learners

AdviceExplanation
Use Grammar ListsStudying 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 ResourcesStudying 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 UseIt’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.
Table of Advice for English Learners
lillypad english learning app banner

Common Errors Made by English Learners

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

Common ErrorsExplanation/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.
prepositions of Cause Common Errors

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.

LillyPad english language app CTA icon

Prepositions of Cause Frequently Asked Questions

Prepositions of cause show why something is happening or being. They show the reason behind the topics of sentences.

Read the examples below:

– Maya was mad because of the cancellation.
– Jose’s life became so much better thanks to the foundation.
As a result of the downgrade, the system glitches ever so often.
– Are you crying because of the movie?
Due to her illness, Jessa had to stop working.

According to a study done by language experts, the most widely used in the English language are as follows:

in (being inside a place)
on (being on a surface of something)
to (moving intentionally to a place)
for (giving something to someone)
at (being somewhere specific)
by (signify who did something or how something is done)
from (where the starting point it)
with (accompanied by someone)
of (indicate the connection between two people, things, etc.)
about (concerning the subject)

Despite what the so-called grammar police would say, it’s not wrong for prepositions to end sentences. If you meet someone who insists that the question “At which place are you?” should be used instead of “Where are you at?” run away and don’t look back.

Kidding aside, ending sentences with prepositions may be non-standard practice or avoided in formal or business English, but there isn’t any existing rule in contemporary English that prohibits this.

No. Prepositional phrases consist of prepositions and their objects. An object (of a verb or a preposition) is always a noun. In some cases, the object of a preposition may be a noun clause that contains a verb, but the entire clause still functions as a singular unit, i.e. as a noun.

Gerunds, or the –ing forms (the present participle) of verbs, are used as nouns and can be part of a prepositional phrase.

Yes, as you may have read a notice like this somewhere: “In case of fire, break glass.” When prepositional phrases begin sentences, they don’t always need to be followed by a comma. For example “Up the stairs the children ran.” You will come across similar kinds of sentences in books or articles as many writers do this.

lillypad english learning app banner

Learn from History – Follow the Science – Listen to the Experts

For learners of all ages striving to improve their English, LillyPad combines the most scientifically studied and recommended path to achieving English fluency and proficiency with today’s most brilliant technologies!

What’s the one thing that makes LillyPad so special? Lilly! Lilly’s a personal English tutor, and has people talking all over the world! Lilly makes improving your English easy. With Lilly, you can read in four different ways, and you can read just about anything you love. And learning with Lilly, well that’s what you call liberating!

Additionally, the platform incorporates goal-setting capabilities, essential tracking & reporting, gamification, anywhere-anytime convenience, and significant cost savings compared to traditional tutoring methodologies.

At LillyPad, everything we do is focused on delivering a personalized journey that is meaningful and life-changing for our members. LillyPad isn’t just the next chapter in English learning…

…it’s a whole new story!

Do you want to improve your English? Visit www.lillypad.ai.

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram!