ものだから・
You give the reason for something that went wrong, hoping the other person will understand. It is the "because" of apologies and excuses.
The traffic was terrible, so I ended up being late for the meeting.
I was unaware of the circumstances, so I ended up saying something inappropriate.
How to form it
Plain form + ものだから／もので／ものですから
A な-adjective or a noun takes な: 静かなもので, 初めてなもので. In conversation もの often shrinks to もん: もんだから, もんで, もんですから.
- Before it
- The reason, usually in the plain form even when you are speaking politely. It is something you couldn't help.
- After it
- What has already happened, in spite of yourself: you were late, you got it wrong, you couldn't come. It usually ends in てしまった or a "couldn't".
- Which of the three
- ものだから is the ordinary one. もので is softer: the reason is offered, not argued. ものですから is polite, for a boss, a customer or a stranger.
- Where you'll meet it
- Conversation: apologizing at work, explaining yourself to a teacher or a neighbor. Not in reports or essays.
In use
Some urgent work came up, so I was unable to contact you yesterday.
I am not familiar with operating the machine, so entering the data took me longer than expected.
I was so sleepy that I ended up riding all the way to the last stop.
With あまりに(も) it explains something you couldn't stop yourself doing: "I was so … that I …".
Two things to know
People often stop at the reason
When the other person can already see what went wrong, the reason is enough.
Sorry I'm late. The trains had stopped, you see.
Sorry, it's my first time, so…
A request can't follow it
It accounts for something that has happened. To give a reason and then ask for something, people say ので.
Not said: 時間が
(We have no time, so please hurry.)
Say 時間がないので、急いでください.
Close neighbours
のでN5
Plain "because". It reports the reason without pleading, and a request can follow.
I have a headache, so may I go home early today?
のだからN3
The opposite attitude. The reason is one the other person already knows, and you use it to push them: "you know this, so…".
You're an adult now, so decide for yourself.
もの・もんN3
At the end of a sentence: a casual, rather childish "because", often after だって.
Well, I didn't know.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
雨が
Choose an answer to see why.
2You are late and apologizing to your boss. Which sounds right?
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
My child suddenly developed a fever, so I could not attend last night's gathering.
I have only just arrived here, so I mistakenly went to the wrong reception area.
I had left my phone at home, so I could not reply immediately.
I was still a student at the time, so I could not afford expensive reference materials.