porque / xa que / como

Giving Reasons

Level 3

To give a reason, use porque (because), xa que (since) or como at the start of the sentence (as): Como chovía, quedamos na casa (as it was raining, we stayed at home).

How It Works

Porque. The most common way to give a reason, usually after the result: Non fun á festa porque estaba enfermo (I didn't go to the party because I was ill). It is written as one word; por que in two words asks why. See por que and porque.

Xa que. It presents a cause as known or obvious, and it can come first or second: Xa que estás aquí, axúdame a poñer a mesa (since you are here, help me set the table), Non saio xa que estou canso (I am not going out, since I am tired).

Como. With this meaning, como normally opens the sentence, so the cause comes before the result: Como non tiña cartos, non merquei nada (as I had no money, I did not buy anything). After the main clause, use porque instead. In speech, como sometimes adds a reason after a pause as an afterthought, but inside one sentence it goes first. With the subjunctive, como means "if", usually with a warning tone: Como chegues tarde, marcho sen ti (if you are late, I will leave without you).

Pronouns. These words start a subordinate clause, so object pronouns go before the verb: porque me chamaron, como non te vin. See pronouns in subordinate clauses.

Other ways. Everyday Galician often adds a reason with a simple que after a request: Pecha a fiestra, que fai frío. Formal writing prefers dado que and posto que, and pois can also mean because. To state the result instead of the cause, use por iso and así que.

Examples (6)

  1. Non fun á festa porque estaba enfermo.

    I didn't go to the party because I was ill.

    Word by Word: Not went-I to-the party because was-I ill.

  2. Como chovía, quedamos na casa.

    As it was raining, we stayed at home.

    Word by Word: As rained, stayed-we in-the house.

    Causal como comes first, before the main clause.

  3. Xa que estás aquí, axúdame a poñer a mesa.

    Since you're here, help me set the table.

    Word by Word: Already that are-you here, help-me to put the table.

  4. Levo o paraugas porque din que vai chover.

    I'm taking the umbrella because they say it's going to rain.

    Word by Word: Take-I the umbrella because say-they that goes to-rain.

  5. Como non me chamaches, marchei só.

    As you didn't call me, I left on my own.

    Word by Word: As not me called-you, left-I alone.

  6. Pecha a fiestra, que fai frío.

    Close the window, it's cold.

    Word by Word: Close the window, that makes cold.

    In everyday speech a simple que can add the reason for a request.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting causal como after the main clause.

    Quedamos na casa como chovía.
    Quedamos na casa porque chovía.

    Inside one sentence, como only means "as, since" at the start: Como chovía, quedamos na casa. After the main clause, use porque.

  • Writing por que for "because".

    Estudo galego por que vivo en Lugo.
    Estudo galego porque vivo en Lugo.

    Por que in two words asks "why?". The answer "because" is one word: porque.

  • Using the Spanish ya que.

    Ya que estás aquí, axúdame.
    Xa que estás aquí, axúdame.

    The Galician form is xa que, with the same xa as in xa estou listo.

How It Connects

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porque / xa que / comoLevel 3Giving Reasons

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Reason connectors differ in how they present a cause and where it appears.

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