What's the most important difference in usage? Hello, as I was studying I realised that all of these structures, in English, are simply translated to 'because' and it got me thinking that I'm not 100%

Natalia

What's the most important difference in usage? Hello, as I was studying I realised that all of these structures, in English, are simply translated to 'because' and it got me thinking that I'm not 100% sure when to use which one? So can somebody please help me out and give me maybe some examples and simple explanation on when each of these forms should be used? Thank You in advance :)
1. -아/어/여서
2. -(으)니까
3. -기 때문에
4. -는 바람에
5. -(으)므로
6. -(으)니 만큼
7. -느라고
8. -아/어/여 가지고
9. -길래

May 31, 2018 2:20 PM

Comments · 2

They all indicate a reason but have different connotations.

1. -아/어/여서 connects the reason/cause and effect tightly. It is very widely used, but because of the tightness, it can't be used with an imperative sentence. 비가 와서 가지 말자 sounds strange because of the suggestive 말자.

2. -(으)니까 - connects the two parts loosely, like "given the situation ...". It's well suited for imperative sentences, like 비가 오니까 가지 말자.

3. -기 때문에 - Similar to -아/어/여서, but it sounds more explicit because of 때문 (the reason).

4. -는 바람에 - 바람 means "wind", or a force that leads you in certain direction. So it is only used with concrete events. 비가 오는 바람에 못 갔어/가겠어.

5. -(으)므로. This is best suited to logical reasons, much like "Because ..., it follows that ...".

6. -(으)니 만큼 - 만큼 means a specific amount of something, like "as much" in English. It makes a construct like "as much as" or "inasmuch as". 내가 열심히 했으니 만큼 결과가 좋겠지 (As much as/Inasmuch as I put in so much work, I'd expect a good result).

7. -느라고 = This indicates an unexpected thing one had to do which caused an unwanted effect on something else. So it can't be used for a conceptual reason. 아이가 울어서 달래 재우고 나오느라고 늦었어.

8. -아/어/여 가지고. 가지다/갖다 means "to have (on oneself)". When speaking of a reason, it sort of visualizes the situation, lingering on it longer to emphasize it. So it's used for circumstantial thing that is still fresh on the speaker's mind. 아이가 너무 울어 가지고 ... 나올 수가 없었어.

9. -길래 is similar to -기에 ("at" some event), and indicates something that one encountered unexpectedly. It emphasizes the external origin and how one responded in reaction. 그 사람이 싫다고 하길래 나도 그만뒀어 (He said no, so I also gave up the idea).

May 31, 2018