Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 5: 2/12

のでBecause, So, Since, The reason being

Structure

Verb + ので + Phrase
[い]Adjective + ので + Phrase
[な]Adjective + + ので + Phrase
Noun + + ので + Phrase

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Conjunctive Particle

  • Register

    Standard

About ので

ので is a Japanese grammar structure called a conjunction particle. This means that it connects two parts of a sentence 'logically'. The connection that ので makes between (A), and (B), is similar to から, meaning that it is often translated as 'because', or 'since'.

When used after な-Adjectives or nouns, な must precede ので.

When used as 'since', ので puts emphasis on the sentence as a whole, or on the effects caused. It then examines those reasons objectively (in a way that is based on facts, rather than feelings or opinions). から tends to be more subjective, and can sound much more vague when used as 'because'.

We can see here that から is not quite as strong as ので. This relates back to the base meaning of から being 'from', rather than 'because'.

Caution

ので can sometimes be seen as んで, which is a more casual variation. Also, unlike many grammar points that connect to verbs, ので may be used with the ます form. This is something that is unique to conjunction particles.

Synonyms



Examples

--:--

    (わたし)寿司(すし)()ではないので()ない

    I don't like sushi, so I don't eat it.

    今日(きょう)時間(じかん)がないので明日(あした)漢字(かんじ)(おし)ます

    Because we don't have time today, I will teach you kanji tomorrow.

    今日(きょう)先生(せんせい)(やす)なので授業(じゅぎょう)くなった

    Since the teacher has the day off today, classes were cancelled.

    土曜日(どようび)なので旅行(りょこう)()たい

    Because it is Saturday, I want to go on a trip.

    今日(きょう)一月(いちがつ)二十日(はつか)なので(かれ)誕生日(たんじょうび)です

    Since today is January 20th, it is his birthday.

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ので – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (25 in total)

  • genpoe

    genpoe

    暗いので、電気をつけます。

    Is there a reason this can only be ので and not んで?

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @genpoe !

    The reason that んで is not accepted here is because it is the casual form of ので and the sentence ends politely. Although a native might use んで (depending on context), it is always better to keep the politeness of a sentence consistent!

  • genpoe

    genpoe

    aah, one of those frustrating things that feels so obvious in hindsight thank you so much!

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