Learn the difference between "por qué" used in questions like "¿Por qué caminas tanto?" and "porque," which gives reasons, as in "Me he perdido porque no he consultado el plano." This lesson clarifies their uses to help you express causes and ask questions correctly in Spanish.
- "¿Por qué?" is used to ask for the reason for something, while "porque" introduces an answer or explanation.
- We use “por qué” in direct and indirect questions.
- We use "porque" to give a cause or reason.
| Uso (Use) | Por qué/ Porque (Why / Because) | Ejemplo (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Pregunta directa (Direct question) | ¿Por qué? | ¿Por qué caminas tanto? (Why do you walk so much?) |
| Pregunta indirecta (Indirect question) | Por qué | No sé por qué se ha perdido. (I don't know why he/she/it has gotten lost.) |
| Causa (Cause) | Porque | Me he perdido porque no he consultado el plano. (I have got lost because I haven’t consulted the map.) |
| Razón simple (Simple reason) | Porque | Estamos aquí porque queremos ver una exposición. (We are here because we want to see an exhibition.) |
| Explicación (Because) | Porque | He cogido un taxi porque no quiero ir de paseo. (I have taken a taxi because I do not want to go for a walk.) |
| Excusa (Excuse) | Porque | No he hecho la foto porque tengo la cámara. (I didn’t take the photo because I have the camera.) |
Exceptions!
- "Porque" is a causal conjunction, without an accent or space.
Exercise 1: La diferencia entre "Por qué" y "Porque"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
por qué, Por qué, porque
1.
¿... no has consultado el plano de la ciudad?
(¿Por qué no has consultado el plano de la ciudad?)
2.
Visitamos la plaza ... nos gusta su historia.
(Visitamos la plaza porque nos gusta su historia.)
3.
Nos hemos perdido ... no hemos mirado el plano.
(Nos hemos perdido porque no hemos mirado el plano.)
4.
¿... no has mandado una postal a tus amigos
(¿Por qué no has mandado una postal a tus amigos)
5.
No sé ... han cerrado la calle peatonal.
(No sé por qué han cerrado la calle peatonal.)
6.
¿... no has hecho una foto del monumento?
(¿Por qué no has hecho una foto del monumento?)
7.
He caminado mucho ... me he perdido esta mañana.
(He caminado mucho porque me he perdido esta mañana.)
8.
Hemos hecho una pausa ... el paseo ha sido largo.
(Hemos hecho una pausa porque el paseo ha sido largo.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence in each group based on the use of "por qué" and "porque" to properly express reason or cause, in the context of a tourist in the city.
1.
It is incorrect to use 'Porque' in a direct question; '¿Por qué?' with an accent and question marks must be used.
Missing initial question mark for this to be a correctly written direct question.
2.
'Porque' written together is used for answers or explanations, which is incorrect here in an indirect question.
Incorrect to use question marks in an indirect question; it should not have any question marks.
3.
A question is not used to express cause or reason after this structure.
'Por qué' written separately and with an accent is only used in questions, not in answers or explanations.
4.
'Porque' is not used in questions, especially not with question marks.
Missing initial question mark for the direct question to be complete and correct.