JLPT N5 grammar · Conjunctions & Questions
~から: meaning, usage and examples
~から means: because... (reason).
How to form it
＜Plain form clause＞ + から + ＜result/main clause＞
Examples
時間がないから、タクシーで行きましょう。
We're short on time, so let's take a taxi.
明日はテストがありますから、今晩勉強します。
Because there is a test tomorrow, I will study tonight.
寒いから、窓を閉めてください。
It’s cold, so please close the window.
疲れたから、少し休みます。
I’m tired, so I’ll rest a little.
When to use it
Expresses reason or cause: 'Because A, B.' The から clause comes first.
Nuance
から is the speaker's subjective reason. ので is softer and more objective/polite.
Compare
ので is preferred in polite situations. から sounds more direct/assertive.
Tip: On JLPT, when a reason clause needs to connect to a polite result clause, ので is often the safer answer.
More in Conjunctions & Questions
- [Person/Animal] と: with [Person/Animal]
- [Noun] と [Noun]: [Noun] and [Noun] (a complete list)
- ~や~: things like... and... (an incomplete list)
- [Noun] の [Noun]: (particle indicating possession or modification)
- が/けど: but... (conjunction)
- 〜とき: when… (at the time of...)
- どんな [Noun]: what kind of [Noun]?
- どうですか: how about, how... (asking for an opinion or impression)
- 何 (なん/なに): what
- どこ(へ/に)も/何も/だれも + (Negative): not…anywhere / not...anything / no one
- どこか/何か/だれか/いつか: somewhere/something/someone/sometime
Frequently asked questions
What does ~から mean?
Because... (reason). Example: 時間がないから、タクシーで行きましょう。 (We're short on time, so let's take a taxi.)
How do you form ~から?
＜Plain form clause＞ + から + ＜result/main clause＞. On JLPT, when a reason clause needs to connect to a polite result clause, ので is often the safer answer.