OVERVIEW

On this page, you will learn about using because and when.

First, read the text and study the examples.
Then, listen to audio of the text.

READ & LISTEN

Read:

Subordinating Conjunctions - Because and When: Words like because and when are useful for talking about causes and effects. You can use because with a cause to explain the reason why something happens, or when to tell the time it happens.

Examples:

I feel stress because I am worried about money.
I cry sometimes when I feel stress.

In these sentences, because and when are called conjunctions. They join or hold together two clauses. A clause is a group of related words that has a subject and a verb. A clause is like a sentence – these sentences have two clauses, and each one is a short sentence.

Listen:

Read:

The clause that begins with because or when is not a complete sentence. This clause is called a subordinate clause.

The main clause has the most important information. It is a complete sentence on its own.

The subordinate clause tells us more information and details about the situation in the main clause. It needs the information in the main clause to make complete sense.

Main clause = main information (complete sentence)	Subordinate clause = more information/details (incomplete sentence)
I feel stress	because I am worried about money.
I worry about my mother	because she is sick.
I cry	when I am sad.
I can’t sleep	when I am anxious.

Listen:

Read:

Punctuation: The main clause can come first in a sentence, or the subordinate clause can come first.

If the main clause is first, you don’t need any special punctuation. Just write the two clauses, and a period at the end of the sentence.

If the subordinate clause is first, you need to use a comma in the middle of the sentence.

Main clause first	Subordinate clause first
I feel depressed because I can't find a job.	Because I can’t find a job, I feel depressed.
I have insomnia because I worry about money.	Because I worry about money, I have insomnia.
I feel sad sometimes when I think about my country.	When I think about my country, I feel sad sometimes.
It helps to talk with a friend when I feel depressed.	When I feel depressed, it helps to talk with a friend.

Listen: