[N4 Grammar] The Difference Between から／ので／て
Translated from the Vietnamese original. View the original.
N4 grammar: the difference between から／ので／て
Meaning: Because… / Since… / Due to…
A.『～から』expresses a SUBJECTIVE cause or reason, and the relationship between CAUSE & EFFECT is clear and direct.
Examples: 雨が降るから、サッカーの練習をやめた。
Because it rained, I skipped football practice.
(I skipped practice because it rained = a very clear cause-effect relationship. It also shows the speaker's subjective reason)
あまり好きじゃないから、食べなかった。
Because I didn't really like it, I didn't eat it. (Direct reason. The speaker's subjective view)
In addition, 『～から』is also used with COMMANDS – PROHIBITIONS
Examples:
(1) おいしいからもうひとつ食べたい。 （話者の意志）
Because it's delicious, I want to eat another one. (The speaker's WILL)
(2) 天気が良かったから楽しかったでしょうね。 （話者の推量）
Because the weather was nice, everyone must have had a great time. (The speaker's GUESS)
(3) よい子だからおとなしくしなさい （命令）
Because you're a good child, sit still! (COMMAND)
(4) 危ないからそっちへ行ってはいけないよ。 （禁止）
Because it's dangerous, you mustn't go there. (PROHIBITION)
B. Meanwhile『～ので』is used when the speaker wants to describe a cause-effect relationship OBJECTIVELY (the cause leads to the result), or when the speaker wants to assert or emphasise the LEGITIMACY of their own position
=> This is used a lot in justifications or apologies.
It is also used to EXPLAIN or make a REQUEST POLITELY.
Examples: しばらく雨が降らないので、ほこりがひどい。
Because it hasn't rained for a long time, it's terribly dusty.
(Objective description. The heavy dust is due to an objective cause (no rain for a long time))
(1) When you want to explain or give a reason POLITELY
・ 試合終了後は大変混雑いたしますので、お帰りの切符は今のうちにお求めになっておいてください。
Since it will be very crowded after the match ends, please buy your return tickets now.
・本日生地がなくなりましたので夜の営業はお休みさせていただきます。 申し訳ございません。
Since we have run out of dough today, we will be closed this evening. We sincerely apologise to our customers.
(2) When you want to report a fact or phenomenon OBJECTIVELY
･ 強い風が吹いたので、あちこちの看板が倒れたりとばされたりしてしまった。
Because the wind blew very hard, signboards in many places fell over or were blown away.
(3) When you want to STRONGLY assert the LEGITIMACY of your own position, or when justifying or apologising.
Since it's late, I'm going home.
・交通渋滞に引き込まれたので、学校に遅れた。
Because of the traffic jam, I was late for class.
C. As for the structure 『～て』
First let's list some uses of this structure:
(1) Used adverbially
He sat down on the chair and read a book.
(2) Listing actions or a sequence of actions
・図書館で勉強して、（それから）家へ帰る。
I studied at the library, (then) went home.
(3) Expressing cause – reason
・ 彼は驚いて、飛び上がった。
He jumped up in surprise.
(4) Describing things in parallel
・おじいさんは山へ芝刈りに行って、おばあさんは川へ洗濯に行く。
The old man went up the mountain to cut grass, while the old woman went to the river to wash clothes.
Among the uses above, in the case of expressing cause – reason, we see that 『～て』
is similar to 『～から』in that there is a tight link in the CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIP. That is, it clearly
shows that this cause led to that result.
1) 彼(かれ)は驚(おどろ)いて、飛(と)び上(あ)がった。
He jumped up in surprise.
=> He jumped up because he was so surprised.