jo

Because: Jo

Level 2

Say what happens, add a comma, then give the reason with jo: Es palieku mājās, jo līst. (I am staying at home because it is raining.)

How It Works

The pattern. Main clause, comma, jo, reason:

  • Es palieku mājās, jo līst. (I am staying at home because it is raining.)
  • Viņa nenāk, jo viņai nav laika. (She isn't coming because she has no time.)
  • Es mācos latviešu valodu, jo mans vīrs ir latvietis. (I am learning Latvian because my husband is Latvian.)

Always second. English can say Because it is raining, I am staying at home. Latvian does not start that sentence with jo. To give the reason first, use tā kā: Tā kā līst, es palieku mājās. Or turn it around with tāpēc: Līst, tāpēc es palieku mājās. (It is raining, so I am staying at home.)

Answering kāpēc. In a conversation, the answer to Kāpēc? (Why?) often starts with jo, because it continues the question: Kāpēc tu nenāc? — Jo man nav laika. (Why aren't you coming? — Because I don't have time.)

Tāpēc ka. Tāpēc ka also means because, and it also comes after the main clause: Es palieku mājās, tāpēc ka līst. Jo is the shorter, everyday choice.

A different jo. In a pair, jo means the more: jo ātrāk, jo labāk (the sooner, the better). See the more … the more.

Examples (6)

  1. Es palieku mājās, jo līst.

    I am staying at home because it is raining.

    Word by Word: I stay at-home, because rains.

  2. Viņa nenāk, jo viņai nav laika.

    She isn't coming because she has no time.

    Word by Word: She not-comes, because to-her is-not of-time.

  3. Es mācos latviešu valodu, jo mans vīrs ir latvietis.

    I am learning Latvian because my husband is Latvian.

  4. Es nopirku lietussargu, jo lija.

    I bought an umbrella because it was raining.

    Word by Word: I bought umbrella, because rained.

  5. Vakar es nestrādāju, jo biju slims.

    I didn't work yesterday because I was ill.

    Es is left out after jo because the subject is clear.

  6. Kāpēc tu nenāc? — Jo man nav laika.

    Why aren't you coming? — Because I don't have time.

    In a reply, jo can start the answer because it continues the question.

Common Mistakes

  • Starting the sentence with the jo clause.

    Jo līst, es palieku mājās.
    Es palieku mājās, jo līst.

    The part with jo comes after the main clause. To give the reason first, say Tā kā līst, es palieku mājās.

  • Leaving out the comma before jo.

    Es palieku mājās jo līst.
    Es palieku mājās, jo līst.

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

  • Putting jo before the result instead of the reason.

    Līst, jo es palieku mājās.
    Es palieku mājās, jo līst.

    Jo goes right before the reason. The sentence as written says it is raining because you are staying at home.

How It Connects

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joLevel 2Because: Jo

Learn This First

Jo gives a reason.

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Words in This Pattern