parce que

Because with Parce Que

Level 3

Parce que is the standard French word for 'because'. It links a result to its cause and is followed by a subject and a conjugated verb.

How It Works

The conjunction parce que is a 'locution conjonctive' (a multi-word conjunction). Its primary role is to introduce a subordinate clause that explains the cause of the main clause.

1. Grammatical Structure
It must be followed by a full clause (Subject + Verb). You cannot use it directly before a noun. For nouns, use à cause de for negative/neutral causes or grâce à for positive ones.

  • Je mange parce que j'ai faim. (I am eating because I am hungry.)
  • J'ai réussi grâce à toi. (I succeeded thanks to you.)

2. Elision
When the following word starts with a vowel or a mute 'h', the 'e' in que is dropped and replaced by an apostrophe. This is known as elision.

  • Parce qu'il...
  • Parce qu'elle...

3. Emphasis with 'C'est parce que'
To emphasize the reason, you can use the structure c'est parce que (it is because).

  • Si je suis en retard, c'est parce que j'ai raté le bus.

4. Placement and Register
While parce que can start a sentence to answer a pourquoi (why) question directly, it can also start a statement (Parce qu'il pleut, je reste à la maison), though comme is the more usual choice there. In formal writing, car is often used in the middle of a sentence.

5. Nuance vs. Other Patterns
Unlike puisque (since), which introduces a reason the listener already knows, parce que usually introduces a reason that is new or being emphasized.

Examples (4)

  1. Je ne sors pas parce qu'il pleut.

    I am not going out because it is raining.

    Word by Word: I [negation] go out not because it rains.

    Notice the elision (parce qu') because 'il' starts with a vowel.

  2. Pourquoi es-tu en retard ? Parce que j'ai raté le bus.

    Why are you late? Because I missed the bus.

    Word by Word: Why are you in delay? Because I have missed the bus.

    Parce que is the standard response to the question 'Pourquoi?'.

  3. Elle étudie beaucoup parce qu'elle veut réussir.

    She studies a lot because she wants to succeed.

    Word by Word: She studies much because she wants to succeed.

    The cause (wanting to succeed) follows 'parce que' and uses a conjugated verb (veut).

  4. Il est fatigué parce qu'il a travaillé toute la nuit.

    He is tired because he worked all night.

    Word by Word: He is tired because he has worked all the night.

    Parce que introduces the reason for his current state (tiredness).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'parce' without 'que'.

    Je suis content parce j'ai fini.
    Je suis content parce que j'ai fini.

    In French, 'parce' is never used alone to mean 'because'; it must always be 'parce que' (or 'parce qu'').

  • Using 'parce que' before a noun.

    Je suis en retard parce que le trafic.
    Je suis en retard à cause du trafic.

    If you want to give a reason using a noun rather than a verb clause, you must use 'à cause de' (for negative/neutral reasons) or 'grâce à' (for positive reasons).

  • Answering a 'pourquoi' question with 'comme'.

    — Pourquoi restes-tu à la maison ? — Comme il pleut.
    — Pourquoi restes-tu à la maison ? — Parce qu'il pleut.

    To answer a 'why' question, use 'parce que'. The word comme only starts a sentence that gives the reason before the result (Comme il pleut, je reste à la maison). It cannot be the answer on its own.

How It Connects

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parce queLevel 3Because with Parce Que

Learn This First

To use 'parce que' effectively, you need to understand how to ask 'why' using 'pourquoi', how to construct basic sentences to form the reason, and how to apply elision when the following word starts with a vowel.

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Words in This Pattern

parce que