Because is a conjunction. Because of is a preposition. As a conjunction, because is followed by a clause. Because of is followed by a noun/pronoun.
Fill in the blanks with because or because of.
1. We cancelled the trip ..................... the rain.
Correct!
Wrong!
2. He sat down ………………….. he was feeling dizzy.
Correct!
Wrong!
3. It is …………………. your mother that we got into this mess.
Correct!
Wrong!
4. We hurried indoors ……………….. it was raining.
Correct!
Wrong!
5. I was late …………………. the traffic.
Correct!
Wrong!
6. We could not reach on time ………………… the traffic was terrible.
Correct!
Wrong!
7. The exam was easy ...................... he knew all the answers.
Correct!
Wrong!
8. He can’t walk .....................… his illness.
Correct!
Wrong!
9. He lost his job ...................... the recession.
Correct!
Wrong!
10. …………………. the language problem, I couldn’t win the argument.
Correct!
Wrong!
Answers
1. We cancelled the trip because of the rain.
2. He sat down because he was feeling dizzy.
3. It is because of your mother that we got into this mess.
4. We hurried indoors because it was raining.
5. I was late because of the traffic.
6. We could not reach on time because the traffic was terrible.
7. The exam was easy because he knew all the answers.
8. He can’t walk because of his illness.
9. He lost his job because of the recession.
10. Because of the language problem, I couldn’t win the argument.
