ことだしsince …, for one thing
You point to one circumstance, hinting that there are other reasons too, and go on to a suggestion or a decision: "the rain has stopped, too, so shall we go?" It is し with more thought behind it, and a little more formal.
a suggestion
The wind has died down, too, so shall we get going?
a decision
I'm feeling better, too, so I plan to go back to practice next week.
How to form it
Verb or adjective in the plain form + ことだし
そろったことだし, 遅いことだし, ないことだし. A な-adjective takes な: 静かなことだし. A noun can't go straight onto こと, so people say plain だし: 休みだし. 学生であることだし, with である, is correct but stiff. Polite: ことですし.
- Before it
- A fact that is already plain, usually to both of you: the rain has stopped, everyone is here, it is late. も is often in it: "that too".
- After it
- A suggestion, an invitation or a decision: 〜よう, 〜ませんか, 〜ましょう, 〜つもりだ.
- Tone
- Unhurried and reasonable, as if you had weighed things up.
- Where you'll meet it
- Conversation and writing. In meetings and with guests it is ことですし.
In use
Since we're all here together, let's take a photo to remember it.
We're in no hurry, either, so let's stop for lunch on the way.
It's getting late, too, so let's finish here for today.
Tomorrow's a day off, for one thing, so let's go and see a film tonight.
After a noun: plain だし, without こと.
Two things to know
The reason can come afterward
In conversation the suggestion often comes first, and the reason is added after it.
Let's stop here for today. It's late, after all.
It doesn't explain a result
ことだし leads to what you will do. What simply happened as a result takes ので or から.
Not said: 薬を
(I took the medicine, so my temperature went down.)
薬を飲んだので、熱が下がった.
Close neighbours
しN4
The everyday word for one reason among others. ことだし is the same thing with こと in front: a fact you have taken into account.
This room's big, for one thing. Let's go with this one.
ものだからN3
It looks back: the excuse for something that has already gone wrong. No suggestion can follow it.
The traffic was terrible, so I ended up being late for the meeting.
のことだからN2
After a person and の, something else: "knowing him", then a guess at what he will do.
Knowing him, he's sure to come.
Check yourself
1Which sentence sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
全員
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
The rain has stopped, too, so I think I'll go for a little walk.
I've got all the material I need now, too, so I'll make a start on the proposal.
This place has a good name, too, so I'll book a table.
It's quiet today, with so few customers. Why don't we talk at a table in the back?