понеже

Because with Понеже

Level 3Sounds Like poneže

Понеже means because or since: Понеже закъснях, изпуснах влака. It very often starts the sentence.

How It Works

1. Reason first. The most typical order puts the reason at the start:

  • Понеже закъснях, изпуснах влака. (Because I was late, I missed the train.)
  • Понеже е празник, магазините са затворени. (Because it is a holiday, the shops are closed.)

2. Reason second. Понеже can also follow the main clause: Не дойдох, понеже бях болен. (I didn't come because I was ill.) Here защото is at least as common.

3. Since, as. When the reason is already known to both speakers, понеже works like English since: Понеже си тук, помогни ми малко. (Since you're here, help me a bit.)

4. Choosing a reason word.

  • Защото: the everyday word, usually after the main clause, and the normal answer to Защо?
  • Понеже: neutral, often at the start.
  • Тъй като: more formal.
  • Заради: before a noun, not a clause (заради дъжда, because of the rain).

5. Punctuation. The понеже clause is always separated from the main clause by a comma.

Examples (5)

  1. Понеже закъснях, изпуснах влака.

    Because I was late, I missed the train.

  2. Понеже е празник, магазините са затворени.

    Because it is a holiday, the shops are closed.

  3. Не дойдох, понеже бях болен.

    I didn't come because I was ill.

    Понеже can also follow the main clause.

  4. Понеже нямаше автобус, тръгнахме пеша.

    Since there was no bus, we set off on foot.

  5. Понеже си тук, помогни ми малко.

    Since you're here, help me a bit.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting a noun right after понеже.

    Понеже дъжда, останахме вкъщи.
    Понеже валеше, останахме вкъщи.

    Понеже needs a clause with a verb. Before a noun, use заради: Заради дъжда останахме вкъщи.

  • Leaving out the comma between the clauses.

    Понеже закъснях изпуснах влака.
    Понеже закъснях, изпуснах влака.

    A comma always separates the понеже clause from the main clause.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

понежеLevel 3Because with Понеже

Learn This First

Because with понеже follows защото.

Words in This Pattern

понеже