Besides から, you can also use the similar conjunction ので to explain reasons.
The main differences between から and ので are:
- While から is used in both casual and formal situations, ので is considered more formal.
- ので can only be used if the speaker believes that the listener agrees that the part before ので is a reason for what follows.
- You can't use ので to form suggestions, invitations, commands or requests.
After verbs and い-adjectives, you can use ので in exactly the same way as から.
| It was raining so I bought an umbrella. | 雨 だった ので 傘 を 買いました。ame datta node kasa o kaimashita. |
| I left the room because the TV was noisy. | テレビ が うるさい ので、 部屋 を 出ました。terebi ga urusai node, heya o demashita. |
| I helped him clean because his room was dirty. | 彼 の 部屋 は 汚かった ので、 掃除 を 手伝いました。kare no heya wa kitanakatta node, souji o tetsudaimashita. |
There is a slight difference in syntax between から and ので when used after a noun or a な-adjective however. When using ので, we attach the ending -な at the end of the noun or な-adjective that precedes ので.
| Because he is energetic, he exercises every day. | 彼 は 元気な ので、 毎日 運動します。kare wa genkina node, mainichi undoushimasu. |
| Because this is an important document, I won't lose it. | これ は 重要な 書類な ので、 無くしません。kore wa juuyouna shoruina node, nakushimasen. |
