SPECIFIC RULES:

Because / Although                         Because of / Despite

1. it rains (heavily)                           the (heavy) rain  

 it snows                                            the snow

2. S + V + O                                       (Not) + Ving + O ….

3. He/ she/ they + be + adj              His / her / their + N

4. The + N + be + adj                       The + adj + N

5. There + be + NP

6. He / she / they + V + adv            His / her / their + adj + N

7. Sth + was / were + invented ..    the invention + of + sth

8. It + be noisy                                  the noise

9. He / she / they + can’t + V0           His / her /their inability + to V0 

Exercise 1: Match the following examples with the rules above:

a. She hurried because it rained.        

  → She hurries because of the rain.

b. We can see a football match at home because they invented television

.→ We can see a football match at home because of the invention of television.

c. Because she can’t write, her brother writes for her.

→ Because of her inability to write, her brother writes for her.

d. We couldn’t do homework because it was noisy.    

e. Because there was a war, they didn’t return home.

→ Because of a war, they didn’t return home.

f. Although she ran quickly to the station, she couldn’t catch the train.

→ Despite running quickly to the station, she couldn’t catch the train.

g. Even though she behaved badly, her parents still supported her.

→ Despite her bad behaviour, her parents still supported her.

h. They went ahead although the weather was bad.     

i. He stayed at home because his mother was sick.      

→ Because of his sick mother, he stayed at home.

Notes:

1. Because = as = since

Because of = due to = owing to = thanks to = on account of = as a result of

2. Although = even though = though

Despite = in spite of = notwithstanding

3. although = despite the fact that = in spite the fact thatAdj / Verb Noun

1. absent (adj) → absence

2. advise (v) → advice (against sth)

4. behave (v) → behaviour

5. bored (adj) → boredom

6. cloudy (adj) → cloud

7. cold (adj) → cold

8. dark (adj) → darkness /dark

9. difficult (adj) → difficulty

10. dislike (v) → dislike for /of

11. drop (v) → drop in

12. fail (v) → failure

13. hot (adj) → heat

14. hungry hunger

15. ill (adj) → illness

16. inexperienced (adj) → inexperience

17. kind (adj) → kindness

18. kind-hearted (adj) → kindheartedness

19. lack (v) → lack of sth

20. late (adj) → lateness

21. love (v) → love for

22. negligent in sth (adj) → negligence in

23. plan (v) → plan

24. poor (adj) → poverty / poorness

25. present  presence (n)

26. practise (v) → practice

27. quarrel (v) → quarrel

28. rain (v) → rain

29. rich (adj) → richness

30. sad (adj) → sadness

31. short (adj) → shortage

32. sick (adj) → sickness

33. snow (v) → snow

34. struggle (v) → struggle

35. tired (adj) → tiredness

36. warn (v) → warnings

37. wise (adj) [waiz] → wisdom

39. wound (v) → wound

More Exercises* Rewrite the sentences below, replace because by because of and vice versa:

1 She didn't go to school yesterday because she was ill.

2 We can't sleep because of the hot weather.

3. She went to bed early because she felt tired.

4. John succeeded easily in his exam because of working hard and methodically.

5. Yesterday Alice was absent from class because she was ill.

6. The students couldn't do the test because it was difficult.

7. They were late for the meeting because it rained heavily.

8. I couldn't drive fast because the street was crowded and narrow.

9 Because of the accident, Tom couldn’t walk any more.

10. Rice plants grow well in this region because the climate is favorable.

11 The plane couldn't take off because it was foggy.

12 The plane's landing was delayed because of fog.

13 Because of the invention of plane, we can travel around the world in a short time.

14. We stopped our car because of the red traffic lights.

15. I can't read the letter because of the dark.