затова

That Is Why with Затова

Level 3Sounds Like zatova

Затова means that is why or so. First say the cause, then give the result with затова: Вали, затова оставаме вкъщи. (It is raining, so we are staying home.)

How It Works

1. Meaning. Затова means that is why, so or therefore. The first part gives a cause, and затова introduces the result:

  • Бях болен, затова не дойдох. (I was ill, so I did not come.)
  • Утре имам изпит, затова тази вечер ще уча. (I have an exam tomorrow, so I will study tonight.)

2. Затова and защото. The two words point in opposite directions. Защото introduces the reason: Не дойдох, защото бях болен. Затова introduces the result: Бях болен, затова не дойдох. Both sentences say the same thing, but the order of cause and result is reversed.

3. Punctuation and position. When затова joins two clauses, put a comma before it. After и, no comma goes between the two words: Обичам го и затова му прощавам. (I love him, and that is why I forgive him.) Затова can also start a new sentence: Утре имам изпит. Затова днес уча.

4. Short pronouns after затова. Because затова opens its clause, short pronouns and се come right after it, before the verb: Затова ти се обаждам. (That is why I am calling you.) See placement of short pronouns.

5. One word or two? Write затова as one word when it means that is why. За това, written as two words, is the preposition за plus това and means about this or for this: Да поговорим за това. (Let's talk about this.)

Similar words. Ето защо also means that is why. Така че means so, and следователно is a formal therefore.

Examples (6)

  1. Бях болен, затова не дойдох.

    I was ill, so I did not come.

    The cause comes first; затова introduces the result.

  2. Вали, затова оставаме вкъщи.

    It is raining, so we are staying home.

  3. Утре имам изпит, затова тази вечер ще уча.

    I have an exam tomorrow, so I will study tonight.

  4. Не те видях. Затова не те поздравих.

    I didn't see you. That is why I didn't say hello.

    Затова can start a new sentence.

  5. Много го обичам и затова му прощавам.

    I love him very much, and that is why I forgive him.

    No comma between и and затова.

  6. Затова ти се обаждам.

    That is why I am calling you.

    The short pronoun ти and се come right after затова.

Common Mistakes

  • Using затова where the reason follows.

    Не дойдох, затова бях болен.
    Не дойдох, защото бях болен.

    Затова introduces a result, not a reason. The incorrect sentence says that not coming made you ill. To give the reason after the main clause, use защото.

  • Writing затова as two words.

    Бях уморен, за това си легнах рано.
    Бях уморен, затова си легнах рано.

    With the meaning that is why, затова is one word. За това means about this.

  • Putting the short pronoun after the verb.

    Затова обаждам ти се.
    Затова ти се обаждам.

    When затова begins the clause, short pronouns and се stand before the verb, right after затова.

How It Connects

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затоваLevel 3That Is Why with Затова

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That is why follows giving reasons.

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Words in This Pattern

затова