〜て／で — A cause expressed with the te-form | JLPT N4 grammar

Meaning

Links a cause to a natural result that is usually outside the speaker's control.

Formation

The cause goes into the て or で form: 風邪をひいて, 道が込んでいて
No request, order or intention in the second clause

When to use it

Core use: A cause expressed with the te-form

Examples

20 sentences

風邪かぜをひいて学校がっこうを休みやすみました
I caught a cold and missed school.
道みちが込んこんでいて遅れおくれました
I was late because the road was crowded.
鍵かぎを忘れわすれて家いえに入れはいれませんでした
I forgot my key and could not get into the house.
うれしくて涙なみだが出でました
I was so happy that tears came to my eyes.
大きなおおきな音おとで赤ちゃんあかちゃんが起きおきました
The baby woke up because of a loud noise.
台風たいふうで庭にわの木きが倒れたおれました
A tree in the garden fell because of the typhoon.
地震じしんで電車でんしゃが止まりとまりました
The trains stopped because of the earthquake.
心配しんぱいで昨夜さくやは眠れねむれませんでした
I could not sleep last night because I was worried.

12 more examples

大雪おおゆきで飛行機ひこうきが飛びとびませんでした
The plane did not fly because of heavy snow.
事故じこで道路どうろが通行止めつうこうどめになっています
The road is closed because of an accident.
台風たいふうが来きて飛行機ひこうきが飛べとべませんでした
A typhoon arrived, so the plane could not take off.
雪ゆきが多くおおくて道みちが通れとおれません
There is a lot of snow, so the road is impassable.
住所じゅうしょが間違っまちがっていて荷物にもつが届きとどきませんでした
The address was wrong, so the parcel did not arrive.
道みちが狭くせまくて車くるまが入れはいれません
The road is narrow, so cars cannot get through.
事故じこで電車でんしゃが止まりとまりました
There was an accident, so the train stopped.
仕事しごとが忙しくいそがしくて旅行りょこうに行けいけません
Work is busy, so I cannot go on a trip.
機械きかいが故障こしょうして工場こうじょうが休みやすみになりました
The machinery broke down, so the factory stopped operating.
この説明せつめいが複雑ふくざつで子どもこどもには分かりわかりません
This explanation is complicated, so children cannot understand it.
雨あめが続いつづいて川かわの水みずが増えふえました
The rain continued, so the water level in the river rose.
停電ていでんでパソコンが使えつかえませんでした
There was a power cut, so we could not use the computer.

Important notes

て／で can connect a cause to an emotion, inability or resulting state.

Common mistakes

For a reason followed by a direct request, から or ので is usually more suitable.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 大雪おおゆきで飛行機ひこうきが飛びとびませんでした After doing my homework, I watch TV.The plane did not fly because of heavy snow.I study while listening to music.
Sentence 2: 事故じこで電車でんしゃが止まりとまりました We practiced Japanese while waiting for the train.After eating breakfast, I go to school.There was an accident, so the train stopped.
Sentence 3: 停電ていでんでパソコンが使えつかえませんでした I went to bed after taking a shower.There was a power cut, so we could not use the computer.I watch the news while eating breakfast.

Similar grammar

Hear it in podcasts

The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.

かぜの一週間N4 · 2 min 57 s