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Lesson 164 of 240

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Why that way in English

Ana and Marcus are looking at the library plan at their downtown Chicago studio. He wants to know why she kept the old windows.

She explains her choice with several reasons. Then she asks what caused the latest cost change.

You'll connect reasons to a choice, explain why you're asking, and check what made a price rise.

By the end of this lesson

Explain why you chose something and why it happened.

  • There are a few reasons.I have more than one reason for this choice.
  • I decided to ___ because of ___.I chose to do ___ for this reason: ___.
  • That's why I went with this plan.That is the reason I chose this plan.
  • The reason I ask is ___.I am asking because of ___.
  • What led to the change?What caused this to change?
  • Is that why the cost went up?Did that make the price higher?

Scene — the old windows

Ana is at the downtown studio, a few Blue Line stops from Logan Square. She and Marcus sit at a long desk with rolled drawings.

The library renovation is on the table. Marcus wants to know why she kept the old windows.

Ana also wants to understand the latest change to the total cost.

Ana and Marcus sit across the long desk as Marcus unrolls a library drawing.

Learn — why you chose it

Six lines help you explain a choice and a cause.

You'll name a few reasons, say why you went with a plan, and ask what led to a change.

  1. Ana raises a hand to indicate she has several reasons for keeping the windows.

    There are a few reasons.

    I have more than one reason for this choice.

    When to use it: Say this before you explain several reasons for a choice or an event.

    Say this first, then name each reason.

  2. Ana points to a tall window shape on the library facade drawing as she explains her choice.

    I decided to ___ because of ___.

    I chose to do ___ for this reason: ___.

    When to use it: Use this when you explain a choice you made.

    After because of, name a thing such as the cost or the weather.

  3. Ana presents the plan to Marcus with both palms resting on the spread drawings.

    That's why I went with this plan.

    That is the reason I chose this plan.

    When to use it: Say this after you name the reason for your choice.

    Went with means chose here.

    Say it: Stress why to connect your choice to the reason.

  4. Marcus reacts to Ana's explanation with an approving, thoughtful nod.

    The reason I ask is ___.

    I am asking because of ___.

    When to use it: Use this when you explain why you are asking.

    Fill the blank with a short reason for your question.

  5. Ana points to the changed total on the cost sheet, asking what caused it to rise.

    What led to the change?

    What caused this to change?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to know what caused a change.

    Led to means caused here.

  6. Marcus indicates a glass sample beside the cost sheet as Ana asks whether it raised the price.

    Is that why the cost went up?

    Did that make the price higher?

    When to use it: Ask this to check whether the reason you heard made the price higher.

    Went up means the price got higher.

    Say it: Link the final t in went to the first sound in up.

Story — Marcus asks why

Watch Ana explain her choice about the old windows to Marcus.

Then she asks about the higher total and checks what caused the extra cost.

  1. Marcus unrolls a drawing of the library.
  2. MarcusSo, why did you keep the old windows?He wants her reasons for keeping the windows.
  3. AnaThere are a few reasons.I have more than one reason for this choice.
  4. MarcusOkay. Start with the big one.He wants the main reason first.
  5. AnaI decided to keep them because of the lower repair cost.She chose to keep them because fixing them costs less than replacing them.
  6. AnaThey also match the building, and repairing them will take less time.The windows look right for the building and can be fixed quickly.
  7. AnaThat's why I went with this plan.That is the reason I chose this plan.
  8. MarcusThat's a fair point.That is a reasonable idea.
  9. Ana points to the higher total on the cost sheet.
  10. AnaWhat led to the change?What caused this to change?
  11. AnaThe reason I ask is that I need the new total for my update.She asks because she needs to report the new amount.
  12. MarcusWell, the new front door needs stronger glass than we expected.They learned that the new door needs stronger glass.
  13. AnaIs that why the cost went up?Did that make the price higher?
  14. MarcusYes. The stronger glass costs more.He confirms that the glass made the total higher.
  15. AnaOkay, I'll explain that in the update.She will include the cause of the higher cost.

Practice — choice and cause

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

You'll also bring back three earlier lines about choices and ideas.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    There are a few reasons.Drop the Simple English here
    That's why I went with this plan.Drop the Simple English here
    What led to the change?Drop the Simple English here
    Is that why the cost went up?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Marcus asks why you kept the old windows; explain your choice and its reason together.

  4. What does it mean?

    What led to the change?

  5. Fill the gap

    I am asking because of ___.

    The ____ I ask is ___.

  6. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    The glass quote came in higher than the first estimate last week.

    The latest price offered for the glass was higher than the amount they first expected.

    And you reply with:

  7. Build the line

    That is the reason I chose this plan.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. What do you say?

    Marcus asks which you prefer: keeping the old windows or replacing them; you prefer keeping them.

  9. Swap the word

    You want to check whether the change made the price higher.

    Is that why the cost went ____?

  10. Find the mistake

  11. True or false?

    This line accepts that someone's idea is reasonable.

Say it — say the reason

Now you're Ana in the studio, explaining a choice and asking about the cost.

Tap the microphone for each turn and record the line with your own voice.

  1. MarcusSo, why did you keep the old windows?He wants her reasons for keeping the windows.
  2. Ana (you)Tell him you have several things to explain.

    There are a few reasons.

    I have more than one reason for this choice.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
There are a few reasons.I have more than one reason for this choice.
I decided to ___ because of ___.I chose to do ___ for this reason: ___.
That's why I went with this plan.That is the reason I chose this plan.
The reason I ask is ___.I am asking because of ___.
What led to the change?What caused this to change?
Is that why the cost went up?Did that make the price higher?
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