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.
(after a noun N and before…之所以 … 是因为 … (effect before cause)
The real reason
- A journalist asks a famous chef why her restaurant has stayed popular for thirty years.
- we / us我们(after a noun N and before…之所以popular受欢迎，是因为all along一直to use / with用most最fresh (experience, food etc)新鲜(modifier / structural particle)的(raw) material材料。 — "The reason we're popular is that we've always used the freshest ingredients."
(after a noun N and before…之所以 + result，是因为 + cause
- (after a noun N and before…之所以 A，是因为 B = "the reason (why) A is that B": the known result comes first, the cause second.
- (after a noun N and before…之所以 follows the subject: he / him他(after a noun N and before…之所以to arrive late迟到，是因为….
he他the reason why之所以was late迟到，is是because因为traffic jam堵车。
Explaining in essays and speeches
- I / me我(after a noun N and before…之所以to select选择this这个specialty专业，是因为I / me我to / towards / correct对medicine医学很感兴趣。 — "I chose this major because I'm very interested in medicine."
- The pattern sounds considered and formal; it suits explanations and written arguments.
I我the reason之所以chose选择this这个major专业，is是because因为interested感兴趣。
Result first, cause second
- Do not reverse it: (after a noun N and before…之所以 introduces the result, 是因为 the cause. Not (after a noun N and before…之所以to rain下雨，是因为competition (sports etc)比赛to cancel取消(completed / change)了.
- Keep to be / is是 before because因为 in the second clause: 是因为, not just because因为 in careful writing.
Versus because因为…so / therefore所以…
- because因为 A，so / therefore所以 B: cause first, then result — the everyday order.
- (after a noun N and before…之所以 B，是因为 A: result first, as something already known, then the explanation.
because因为traffic jam堵车，so所以he他was late迟到了。
Recap
- (Subject) (after a noun N and before…之所以 + result，是因为 + cause = the reason … is that ….
- Result first; keep 是因为; formal and explanatory.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Practice without the models
(after a noun N and before…之所以 … 是因为 … (effect before cause)
1701.1 Complete: “The reason I'm tired is that I slept badly.” I / me我(after a noun N and before…之所以很累，…………because因为yesterday evening昨晚没睡good好。
1701.2 Which sentence is logically correct?
- A. (after a noun N and before…之所以to rain下雨，是因为competition (sports etc)比赛to cancel取消(completed / change)了。
- B. (after a noun N and before…之所以competition (sports etc)比赛to cancel取消，so / therefore所以to rain下雨。
- C. competition (sports etc)比赛(after a noun N and before…之所以to rain下雨，是因为to cancel取消(completed / change)了。
- D. competition (sports etc)比赛(after a noun N and before…之所以to cancel取消，是因为to rain下雨(completed / change)了。
1701.3 Build: “I chose this major because I'm interested in medicine.”
Arrange all chunks: I / me我(after a noun N and before…之所以to select选择this这个specialty专业 / I / me我to / towards / correct对medicine医学很感兴趣。 / 是因为 / ，
1701.4 because因为…so / therefore所以… puts the cause first; (after a noun N and before…之所以…是因为… puts the result first.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1701.5 A journalist asks a famous chef why her restaurant has stayed popular for thirty years. 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
(after a noun N and before…之所以 … 是因为 … (effect before cause)
1701.1 to be / is是
(after a noun N and before…之所以…，是因为….
1701.2 D. competition (sports etc)比赛(after a noun N and before…之所以to cancel取消，是因为to rain下雨(completed / change)了。
(after a noun N and before…之所以 + result (cancelled), 是因为 + cause (rain).
1701.3 I / me我(after a noun N and before…之所以to select选择this这个specialty专业，是因为I / me我to / towards / correct对medicine医学很感兴趣。
Result, then 是因为 + cause.
1701.4 True.
That is the key difference.
1701.5 One possible response: we / us我们(after a noun N and before…之所以popular受欢迎，是因为all along一直to use / with用most最fresh (experience, food etc)新鲜(modifier / structural particle)的(raw) material材料。
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.
- Do not reverse it: (after a noun N and before…之所以 introduces the result, 是因为 the cause. Not (after a noun N and before…之所以to rain下雨，是因为competition (sports etc)比赛to cancel取消(completed / change)了.
- Keep to be / is是 before because因为 in the second clause: 是因为, not just because因为 in careful writing.
- 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.