због тога што / с обзиром на то да

Explicit Causal Links

Level 4Sounds Like zbog toga što; s obzirom na to da

Both 'због тога што' (due to the fact that) and 'с обзиром на то да' (given that / considering that) introduce causal subordinate clauses in formal, written, or deliberate Serbian. While 'због тога што' pinpoints a direct, factual cause, 'с обзиром на то да' introduces an established circumstance or premise taken into account.

How It Works

In intermediate Serbian, reason clauses are typically introduced by everyday connectors like јер or зато што. However, in academic, administrative, and journalistic contexts, standard Serbian frequently relies on compound causal connectors to add precision and formal tone.

1. Structure and Morphology

  • због тога што: Formed from the preposition због (which governs the genitive) + neuter genitive demonstrative pronoun тога + causal conjunction што. Notice that the subordinating conjunction is strictly што, never да or јер.
  • с обзиром на то да / с обзиром на то што: Formed from the prepositional phrase с обзиром ('with regard') + preposition на + accusative demonstrative то + complementizer да or што. In standard prescriptive grammar (such as in works by Ivan Klajn), с обзиром на то што is traditionally preferred for established factual circumstances, whereas с обзиром на то да is very widespread in modern formal and journalistic usage. Note also that omitting the preposition с (writing *обзиром на то...) is a common standard error that should be avoided.

2. Meaning and Functional Nuance

  • због тога што (Direct Cause): Stresses empirical facts or physical causation. It functions as the formal clausal counterpart to prepositional због + генитив and serves as a more emphatic, analytical equivalent of зато што. It can also be directly negated (не због тога што... већ зато што...).
  • с обзиром на то да / што (Circumstantial Premise): Means 'in view of the fact that' or 'taking into consideration that'. It frames an existing background state upon which a judgment, decision, or administrative resolution rests. It is unnatural for direct, involuntary physical events (e.g., you would not say *Пао је с обзиром на то да се саплео; you would say Пао је јер се саплео).

3. Word Order, Splitting, and Style

  • Correlative splitting: The connector због тога што can function as an undivided unit (Отишао је због тога што је морао) or in a split correlative frame where због тога remains in the main clause for focus and што introduces the subordinate clause (Урадио је то због тога... што није имао избора).
  • Prepositioning: Unlike јер (which cannot begin a sentence), both compound constructions can introduce preposed dependent clauses (С обзиром на то да пада киша, остаћемо код куће). When the subordinate clause precedes the main clause, it is always set off by a comma.
  • Stylistic note: While these phrases lend clarity and formality, overusing them can lead to bureaucratic heavy-handedness (канцеларијски стил). In less rigid styles, concise conjunctions such as пошто or будући да are often stylistically preferred.

Examples (4)

  1. Отказали су летове због тога што је магла била прегуста за слетање.

    They canceled the flights due to the fact that the fog was too dense for landing.

    Word by Word: They-canceled flights because-of that that fog was too-dense for landing.

    'Због тога што' introduces the direct, objective cause behind the cancellation.

  2. С обзиром на то да сви чланови одбора нису присутни, седница се одлаже за сутра.

    Given that all board members are not present, the session is postponed until tomorrow.

    Word by Word: With regard onto that that all members of-board are-not present, session itself postpones for tomorrow.

    'С обзиром на то да' introduces an observed circumstance from which an official procedural decision is made.

  3. Није изабран не због тога што му недостаје знање, већ зато што нема искуства.

    He was not chosen not because he lacks knowledge, but because he has no experience.

    Word by Word: Not-is chosen not because-of that that to-him lacks knowledge, but because that has-not experience.

    'Због тога што' easily accepts focus and negation, allowing clear contrast between valid and invalid causes.

  4. С обзиром на то да су трошкови порасли, морамо смањити буџет.

    Considering that costs have increased, we must reduce the budget.

    Word by Word: With regard onto that that are costs risen, we-must reduce budget.

    Shows the preposed position of 'с обзиром на то да' as an initial premise leading to an obligation.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting 'с' or 'на то' in 'с обзиром на то да' (*обзиром да).

    Обзиром да пада киша, остаћемо код куће.
    С обзиром на то да пада киша, остаћемо код куће.

    Although 'обзиром да' and 'с обзиром да' are frequently heard in everyday speech, standard Serbian grammars mandate both the preposition 'с' and the case-marked phrase 'на то'.

  • Combining the demonstrative pronoun with 'јер' (*због тога јер).

    Каснио је због тога јер је био застој.
    Каснио је због тога што је био застој.

    Never combine 'тога' or 'зато' with 'јер'. Standard pairings are either 'због тога што', 'зато што', or 'јер' alone.

  • Using 'ради тога што' to express cause instead of purpose.

    Пут је затворен ради тога што је дошло до одрона.
    Пут је затворен због тога што је дошло до одрона.

    'Због' marks an existing backward-looking cause, while 'ради' marks forward-looking intent or purpose. For factual causation, standard Serbian requires 'због тога што'.

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због тога што / с обзиром на то даLevel 4Explicit Causal Links

Learn This First

To use advanced explicit causal conjunctions like 'због тога што' and 'с обзиром на то да', learners need to be familiar with standard causal clauses ('јер', 'зато што'), the prepositional cause phrases ('због тога'), and the declension of demonstrative pronouns that appear in these multi-word connectors.

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збогобзир