Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.
due to由于 (due to / owing to)
Flight delayed
- An airport announcement explains why your flight is late.
- due to由于weather天气cause原因，(scheduled) flight航班to postpone推迟(of an aircraft) to take off起飞。 — "Due to the weather, the flight's departure has been delayed."
due to由于 + cause，result
- due to由于 = "due to, owing to": a formal "because", common in notices, news and writing.
- It can take a noun phrase or a clause: due to由于(concept of) time时间variant of 关系关系, due to由于he / him他to fall ill生病(completed / change)了.
due to由于he他ill生病了，the meeting会议cancelled取消了。
With so / therefore所以 or therefore因此
- due to由于to work工作busy忙，so / therefore所以he / him他很少to return home回家。 — "Because work is busy, he rarely goes home."
- due to由于准备充分，therefore因此competition (sports etc)比赛degree / adjective linker很smoothly顺利。 — "Because we prepared well, the competition went smoothly."
owing to由于work工作busy忙，so所以he他rarely很少goes home回家。
Formal, and cause first
- due to由于 introduces the cause before the result; "the result, due to由于 cause" is less natural than with because因为.
- In everyday conversation, because因为 sounds more natural than due to由于.
due to由于 versus because因为
- because因为 can follow the result: I / me我not / haven't没to go去，because因为to rain下雨(completed / change)了.
- due to由于 normally starts the sentence and can pair with therefore因此: due to由于…，therefore因此….
I我didn't没go去，because因为it rained下雨了。
Recap
- due to由于 + cause，(so / therefore所以 / therefore因此) result = due to / owing to (formal).
- Cause first; because因为 is the everyday word and can follow the result.
Practise this pattern step by step.
since既然 … ，then / just就 … (since / now that)
Since you're here
- Your friend drops by just as you are cooking dinner.
- since既然to come来(completed / change)了，then / just就in the same place一起to have a meal吃饭(suggestion)吧！ — "Since you're here, stay and eat with us!"
since既然 A，then / just就 B = since A (is a fact), B
- since既然 introduces a known fact; the second clause draws a conclusion or suggestion with then / just就.
- then / just就 goes after the subject: since既然you你not不comfortable舒服，you你then / just就to return home回家rest休息(suggestion)吧.
since既然you你not不well舒服，then就go home回家rest休息吧。
Advice and decisions
- since既然you你already已经to decide (to do something)决定(completed / change)了，I / me我then / just就not不many多variant of 说说(completed / change)了。 — "Since you've already decided, I won't say any more."
- The second part is often a suggestion ((suggestion)吧), a decision or a question (why?为什么still / also还…？).
since既然you你already已经decided决定了，I我then就not不more多say说了。
A fact both people know
- since既然 needs a fact that is already true and known; for a possibility use if如果: if如果you你to come来，… .
- Pair it with then / just就 (or that那 / still / also还), not so / therefore所以: since既然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，we / us我们then / just就别去了.
since既然 versus because因为
- because因为 explains why something happened: because因为to rain下雨，competition (sports etc)比赛to cancel取消(completed / change)了.
- since既然 uses a fact to suggest what to do now: since既然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，we / us我们then / just就to be at home在家to see看电影吧.
since既然it's raining下雨了，we我们then就at在home家watch看a film电影吧。
Recap
- since既然 A，(Subject) then / just就 B = since A (a known fact), then B (suggestion or decision).
- Not for possibilities (if如果); pairs with then / just就, not so / therefore所以.
Practise this pattern step by step.
therefore因此 (therefore / for this reason)
Writing up results
- You are writing a report on why sales of a new drink went up.
- new新产品价格low低，therefore因此degree / adjective linker很popular受欢迎。 — "The new product is cheap, and is therefore very popular."
Cause，therefore因此 + result
- therefore因此 = "therefore, for this reason": a formal "so", common in writing.
- It starts the result clause or follows its subject: therefore因此he / him他to decide (to do something)决定… / he / him他therefore因此to decide (to do something)决定….
he他every day每天practises练习，therefore因此improves进步very很fast快。
After a full sentence too
- 这次to take an exam考试degree / adjective linker很important重要。therefore因此，everyone大家want / will / need要conscientious认真variant of 复习复习。 — "This exam is important. Therefore, everyone must revise carefully."
- It can start a new sentence, followed by a comma.
therefore因此，everyone大家must要carefully认真revise复习。
Do not pair with because因为
- Use due to由于…，therefore因此… or because因为…，so / therefore所以…; because因为…，therefore因此… is avoided in careful writing.
- therefore因此 is formal; in chat, so / therefore所以 is more natural.
therefore因此 versus so / therefore所以 and and so于是
- so / therefore所以 is the everyday "so": to rain下雨(completed / change)了，so / therefore所以I / me我not / haven't没to go去.
- and so于是 tells the next action in a story; therefore因此 gives a logical consequence.
it rained下雨了，so所以I我didn't没go去。
Recap
- Cause，therefore因此 + result = therefore (formal); it may start a new sentence.
- Pairs with due to由于; everyday speech uses so / therefore所以.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Practice without the models
due to由于 (due to / owing to)
1901.1 Complete (notice): “Due to the bad weather, the event is cancelled.” …………weather天气no good不好，to exercise活动to cancel取消。
1901.2 Which word can naturally follow the result? I / me我not / haven't没to go去，____to rain下雨(completed / change)了。
- A. due to由于
- B. and so于是
- C. therefore因此
- D. because因为
1901.3 Build: “Because we prepared well, the competition went smoothly.”
Arrange all chunks: therefore因此 / competition (sports etc)比赛degree / adjective linker很smoothly顺利。 / due to由于准备充分 / ，
1901.4 due to由于 sounds more formal than because因为.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1901.5 An airport announcement explains why your flight is late. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
since既然 … ，then / just就 … (since / now that)
1902.1 Complete: “Since you're ill, go home and rest.” …………you你illness病(completed / change)了，then / just就to return home回家rest休息(suggestion)吧。
1902.2 Which sentence is correct?
- A. since既然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，so / therefore所以we / us我们别去了。
- B. since既然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，we / us我们then / just就别去了。
- C. we / us我们then / just就别去了，since既然so / therefore所以to rain下雨。
- D. since既然tomorrow明天maybe / possible可能to rain下雨，then / just就we / us我们别去。
1902.3 Build: “Since you've decided, I won't say any more.”
Arrange all chunks: I / me我then / just就 / ， / since既然you你already已经to decide (to do something)决定(completed / change)了 / not不many多variant of 说说(completed / change)了。
1902.4 since既然 is the right word for a situation that may or may not happen.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1902.5 Your friend drops by just as you are cooking dinner. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
therefore因此 (therefore / for this reason)
1903.1 Complete (written): “He practises daily and therefore improves fast.” he / him他every day每天to practice练习，…………progress进步很快。
1903.2 Which pair suits careful writing?
- A. due to由于…，therefore因此…
- B. if如果…，therefore因此…
- C. since既然…，therefore因此…
- D. because因为…，therefore因此…
1903.3 Build: “Therefore, everyone must revise carefully.”
Arrange all chunks: everyone大家want / will / need要 / therefore因此 / ， / conscientious认真variant of 复习复习。
1903.4 In casual conversation, so / therefore所以 sounds more natural than therefore因此.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1903.5 You are writing a report on why sales of a new drink went up. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
Answers and explanations
due to由于 (due to / owing to)
1901.1 due to由于
due to由于 + cause, then the result.
1901.2 D. because因为
because因为 can follow the result; due to由于 normally starts the sentence.
1901.3 due to由于准备充分，therefore因此competition (sports etc)比赛degree / adjective linker很smoothly顺利。
due to由于…，therefore因此….
1901.4 True.
It suits notices, news and writing.
1901.5 One possible response: due to由于weather天气cause原因，(scheduled) flight航班to postpone推迟(of an aircraft) to take off起飞。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- due to由于 introduces the cause before the result; "the result, due to由于 cause" is less natural than with because因为.
- In everyday conversation, because因为 sounds more natural than due to由于.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
since既然 … ，then / just就 … (since / now that)
1902.1 since既然
since既然 + known fact, then / just就 + suggestion.
1902.2 B. since既然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，we / us我们then / just就别去了。
since既然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，we / us我们then / just就别去了 is right: since既然 pairs with then / just就 after the subject. so / therefore所以 does not pair with since既然, and then / just就 cannot come before we / us我们.
1902.3 since既然you你already已经to decide (to do something)决定(completed / change)了，I / me我then / just就not不many多variant of 说说(completed / change)了。
since既然 + fact, subject + then / just就 + decision.
1902.4 False.
Possibilities take if如果; since既然 needs a known fact.
1902.5 One possible response: since既然to come来(completed / change)了，then / just就in the same place一起to have a meal吃饭(suggestion)吧！
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- since既然 needs a fact that is already true and known; for a possibility use if如果: if如果you你to come来，… .
- Pair it with then / just就 (or that那 / still / also还), not so / therefore所以: since既然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，we / us我们then / just就别去了.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
therefore因此 (therefore / for this reason)
1903.1 therefore因此
therefore因此 gives the logical consequence.
1903.2 A. due to由于…，therefore因此…
due to由于…therefore因此… is the standard written pair.
1903.3 therefore因此，everyone大家want / will / need要conscientious认真variant of 复习复习。
therefore因此 can open a new sentence.
1903.4 True.
True. therefore因此 is formal and written; in casual conversation so / therefore所以 is the natural word for “so, therefore”.
1903.5 One possible response: new新产品价格low低，therefore因此degree / adjective linker很popular受欢迎。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- Use due to由于…，therefore因此… or because因为…，so / therefore所以…; because因为…，therefore因此… is avoided in careful writing.
- therefore因此 is formal; in chat, so / therefore所以 is more natural.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.