Notes les 9-13 novembrePourquoi et parce que

Questions that begin with pourquoi (why) are often answered with a sentence that contains parce que (because).

Pourquoi est-ce que tu travailles?Why do you work?

Je travaille parce que j’ai besoin d’argent.I work because I need money.

Pourquoi Monique apprend-elle le français?Why is Monique learning French?

Elle apprend le français parce qu’elle veut aller en France.She’s learning French because she wants to go to France.

If parce que is followed by a word that begins with a vowel, there is a required contraction.

…parce qu’il……parce qu’elle……parce qu’on…

The word car also means because, but it is less common (and more literary) than parce que.

Jean-Pierre lit beaucoup car il adore les livres.Jean-Pierre reads a lot because he loves books.