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Lesson 151 of 238

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Because in Spanish

People keep asking Justin why, and today he finally has to answer.

You'll learn to give a reason with porque, name your main reason, and politely ask someone to explain theirs. There's also a softer way to ask if there's a reason at all.

By the end, you can answer any "why" question without a long speech.

By the end of this lesson

Ask why and give reasons with porque.

  • Lo hice porque ___I did it because ___
  • Es porque ___It's because ___
  • La razón principal es ___The main reason is ___
  • No pude porque ___I couldn't because ___
  • ¿Podrías explicar por qué ___?Could you explain why ___?
  • ¿Hay alguna razón por la que ___?Is there a reason ___?

Scene — a promise on Saturday

Saturday morning at Café Laurel. Alex just heard that Justin turned down the market trip, and he wants to know why.

Yako is on his two chairs, quietly guarding the tin under the table.

At Café Laurel, a curious man leans toward Justin at a table while a large cat guards a tin under the table.

Learn — because and why

Six lines, one job: connecting actions to reasons.

Four of them answer a why question, and two ask one back. Notice how porque never changes, no matter who is talking.

  1. Justin explains his reason with an open hand while the curious man listens and the cat guards the tin.

    Lo hice porque ___

    I did it because ___

    When to use it: Say this to explain a past action with its real reason.

    Hice is the preterite of hacer, so this line is about something already done.

    Say it: Porque sounds like POR-keh.

  2. Justin points gently at a small tin under the table while explaining, as Alex listens.

    Es porque ___

    It's because ___

    When to use it: Say this when the reason follows directly, right after a why question.

    A quick, light answer. You can add the full reason or leave it implied.

  3. Justin holds up one finger to state his main reason while Alex nods and the cat keeps guard.

    La razón principal es ___

    The main reason is ___

    When to use it: Say this when there are several reasons but one matters most.

    Razón is feminine, so it takes la, and the adjective principal comes after.

    Say it: Razón stresses the last syllable: rah-SOHN.

  4. Justin spreads his hands apologetically, saying he couldn't go, while Alex looks understanding and the cat guards the tin.

    No pude porque ___

    I couldn't because ___

    When to use it: Say this to explain why you couldn't do something in the past.

    Pude is the preterite of poder, so it's about a specific past moment.

  5. A woman at the next table asks Justin to explain why, leaning toward him with a questioning gesture.

    ¿Podrías explicar por qué ___?

    Could you explain why ___?

    When to use it: Say this to politely ask for a fuller explanation, not just one word.

    Podrías is the conditional of poder, softer than puedes.

    Say it: Por qué is two words when it asks a question.

  6. A different woman stands by the table with a puzzled tilt of the head, asking if there is a reason.

    ¿Hay alguna razón por la que ___?

    Is there a reason ___?

    When to use it: Say this to ask gently whether a reason exists at all.

    Por la que links the reason to the thing you're asking about.

Story — the reason, not the tin

Alex wants one clear reason, and Justin has one: a promise to Amanda.

Watch how each because line carries a different shade of the same answer. Yako has his own agenda at the end.

  1. Alex walks over to the table with the market list still in his hand.
  2. AlexJustin, dijiste que no al sábado. ¿Por qué?Justin, you said no to Saturday. Why?
  3. JustinLo hice porque prometí ayudar a Amanda.I did it because I promised to help Amanda.
  4. Alex¿Podrías explicar por qué no me avisaste antes?Could you explain why you didn't tell me earlier?
  5. JustinDéjame pensar. Es porque se me cayó el internet.Let me think. It's because my internet dropped.
  6. Alex¿En serio? Otra vez, Justin.Seriously? Again, Justin.
  7. JustinSí. La razón principal es que Amanda tiene una entrevista.Yes. The main reason is that Amanda has an interview.
  8. Alex¿Y no puedes cambiarla para el domingo?And you can't move it to Sunday?
  9. JustinNo pude porque ella solo tiene ese día libre.I couldn't because she's only free that day.
  10. Yako¿Hay alguna razón por la que yo no pueda ir con Alex?Is there a reason I can't go with Alex?
  11. AlexClaro que puedes venir, Yako. Nos vemos el sábado.Of course you can come, Yako. See you Saturday.
  12. Yako climbs onto his two chairs, ready to give a long speech about the tin.
  13. JustinSin discursos, Yako. La lata se queda.No speeches, Yako. The tin stays.
  14. YakoBueno. Yo solo pasaba.Fine. I was just passing through.

Practice — pick the reason

Ten exercises, mixing listening, matching, and building. You'll pick the right connector, spot the question that fits, and drag a small chat into order.

The gap items are the trickiest, so read the English meaning first.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    La razón principal es ___Drop the English here
    ¿Podrías explicar por qué ___?Drop the English here
    ¿Hay alguna razón por la que ___?Drop the English here
    ¿En serio?Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. Fill the gap

    Why?

    ¿Por ____?

  4. What do you say?

    Alex asks why you turned down the Saturday trip. You did say no, and the reason is a promise to Amanda.

  5. What does it mean?

    Déjame pensar

  6. Put the chat in order

    1. YakoWhat comes first?
    2. Justin…
    3. Yako…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

  7. Fill the gap

    I couldn't because ___

    No pude ____ ___

  8. What do you say?

    A friend's explanation confuses you and you want more detail. Ask politely for it.

  9. True or false?

    This line points to the most important reason among several.

  10. Build the line

    Seriously?

    ¿ ?

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — explain yourself

Now you're Justin, and Alex wants answers. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and give your reason.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the model line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. AlexDijiste que no al sábado, Justin. ¿Por qué?You said no to Saturday, Justin. Why?
  2. Justin (you)Answer why: you promised to help Amanda.

    Lo hice porque ___

    I did it because ___

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Lo hice porque ___I did it because ___
Es porque ___It's because ___
La razón principal es ___The main reason is ___
No pude porque ___I couldn't because ___
¿Podrías explicar por qué ___?Could you explain why ___?
¿Hay alguna razón por la que ___?Is there a reason ___?
Next: lesson 152That's why

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