1. て (te)

2. で (de)

3. から (kara)

4. ので (node)

5. もので (mono de)

1. て (te)

As the connection between two clauses, the て form of adjectives and verbs can indicate a reason at the end of the first clause in a sentence. Note that the て form can also mean “and” (see here). Telling the difference depends on reading the context correctly. English equivalents:‘because,” “since,” “so.”

i) 道みちが込こんでいて、6時までに空港くうこうに行いくのは無理むりだ。

The roads are crowded, so it’s impossible to get to the airport by 6:00.

ii) あそこは今いま雪ゆきが多おおくて、歩あるいていけませんよ。

Right now the snow is heavy there, so you can’t go (get there) on foot.

2. で (de)

Following nouns, indicates that the noun is the reason for the situation given in the following verb. で can sometimes be made softer in tone by converting it into ので (4) or more direct by replacing it with から (3). English equivalent: “due to”, “owing to”, “because of”…

i) 林はやしさんは、病気びょうきで先週せんしゅうから会社かいしゃを休やすんでいます。

Because Hayashi-san has been ill, he has been away from the office since last week. 

ii) 今朝けさは、事故じこで電車でんしゃが1時間じかんも止とまった。

This morning, due to an accident, the train stopped running for a whole hour． 

3. から (kara)

Indicates a reason and can follow a verb, adjective, na-adjective, or noun; nouns and na-adjective must be accompanied by だ when they are used with から. Compared with ので (4) and もので（5)，から is much more direct in giving a cause or reason and is therefore often avoided in polite conversation when the “reason” may somehow offend the other party. English equivalent: “because”.

i)

久子：今いま悪わるい風邪かぜがはやっているけど、お宅たくのお子こさん大丈夫だいじょうぶ？

知美：ありがとう。うちの子こ、いつも元気げんきだから大丈夫だいじょうぶよ。

Hisako: There is a bad cold going around now. Is your boy/girl OK?

Tomomi：Thanks for asking. Our little boy/girl is always full of energy, so he/she should be OK. 

ii)

富山：午後ごご，ゴルフに行いかない？

稲葉：今日きょうは雨あめだから、明日あしたにしようよ。

Toyama: Want to go golfing this afternoon?

Inaba: Since it’s supposed to rain today, let’s make it tomorrow.

4. ので (node)

Indicates a reason or cause at the end of a clause, the result of which is given in the following clause. Nouns and na-adjectives take な before ので. のでsounds softer than から (3) and is therefore often used when politeness is called for. When more politeness is required, there is recourse to もので (5). ので is similar to て (1) in that they can both connect clauses, but ので has a softer sound. English equivalents: “because”, “in that”.

i) 今年ことしの夏休なつやみは、悪性あくせいの風邪かぜが流行りゅうこうしたので、海外旅行者かいがいりょこうしゃが激減げきげんした。 

During summer vacation this year, there was a bad cold going around, so there was a huge drop in travelers going abroad. 

ii) 今は景気けいきが上向うえむきなので、会社かいしゃの経営けいえいもうまくいっているようだ。 

Now, with the economic upturn, the company is apparently doing well. 

5. もので (mono de)

In that it indicates a cause or reason at the end of a clause and follows verbs, adverbs, and adjectives, もので is similar to, and interchangeable with ので (4); it differs from ので in that it has a more polite sound to it. English equivalents: “because”, “in that”, “for the reason that”.

i) 昨日きのうは子供こどもが熱ねつを出だしたもので、コンサートにご一緒いっしょできず、申もうし訳わけございませんでした。

Yesterday my son/daughter had a fever, so that I wasn’t able to accompany you to the concert. I offer my apologies. 

ii)

田山下：すみません。会議かいぎが長引ながびいているもので、6時じまでにはそちらに伺うかがえないのですが．．．

野本：いいですよ。お待まちしていますから、気にしな いでください。 

Yamashita: I’m very sorry, but the meeting has taken longer than expected and so I won’t be able to call on you by 6 o’lock.

Nomoto: That’s perfectly all right. I’ll be waiting for you, so don’t concern yourself about it.