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The complex sentence with an adverbial clause of cause
§ 174. Adverbial clauses of cause (or causative clauses) express the reason, cause, or motivation of the
action expressed in the main clause or of its content as a whole.
Causative clauses may be introduced by the conjunctions as, because, since, so, that, lest, seeing (that),
considering; or by the composite conjunctions for the reason that, in view of the fact that, in so far as (insofar
as), by reason of. Of these the conjunction as is preferable when the sentence opens with a clause of cause.
As he was tired he preferred to stay at home.
Since there is no help, let us try and bear it as best we can.
They went down arm-in-arm - James with Imogen, because his pretty grandchild cheered him.
In so far as it is difficult to assign an external cause to certain happenings, they are written off as
uncaused or spontaneous.
As can be seen from the above examples, the causative clause may stand in preposition to the main clause,
or follow it. It may also be embedded within the main clause, as in:
She loved to give, since she had plenty, and sent presents here and there to Lilian, the children, and
others.
Each of the conjunctions and conjunctive phrases expresses a certain shade of causative meaning, and so
they are not always interchangeable. Because usually introduces clauses with the meaning of real cause. This
can be illustrated by the ability of because-causes (but not others) to be included in questions. Thus it is correct
to say:
Did you ask him because he was famous or for another reason?
But it is wrong to say: Did you ask him since he was famous...?
Unlike because, the conjunctions since and as introduce clauses with an explanatory meaning, or else that of
motivation.
Since you are here, we may begin our talk.
The other reason why causal conjunctions, though synonymous, are not always interchangeable with
because, is that some of them are polyfunctional: as and since may be conjunctions of time, as well as of cause.
For example:
His mood changed as they marched down to the clocks, (temporal relation)
Note 1:
Causative relation may be found in compound sentences with the coordinating conjunction for. Its
coordinate character is unmistakably shown by the fact that the clause with for cannot stand before the other
half of the sentence.
Note 2:
Some causative conjunctions (as, because) may connect their clause to the main clause rather loosely, in
which case the relation between the clauses is similar to coordination (such clauses may even be independent
sentences). The causative clause generally expresses some grounds on which we can judge of the truthfulness
of some idea expressed in the main clause, as in:
He was, I presume, a relative of the coachman’s, as he lay atop of the luggage, with his face towards the