JLPT N5 Grammar: だから (dakara) — “So / Therefore”

JLPT N5 Grammar: だから (dakara)

Q: Can I use だから after a verb?

No. だから can only start a sentence, not attach to a verb. Use the plain form + から instead.

Q: Is だから always followed by a comma?

In writing, a comma often follows だから, but it's not mandatory. In speech, there's a slight pause.

The conjunction for “so / therefore / that's why”

JLPTジェイエルピーティー N5エヌゴ文法ぶんぽうだから解説かいせつ (理由りゆうと結果けっか)

⏱️ Study time: 5–7 minutes

だから (dakara) means “so”, “therefore”, or “that's why”. It connects two sentences: the first gives a reason, and the second gives the result. It always comes at the beginning of the result sentence and is one of the most common ways to link ideas in everyday Japanese.

🚀 JLPT N5 Warm-up Quiz

Q: How do you say “I'm busy, so I can't go” using だから?

Both A and B are correct! A uses だから as a sentence‑initial conjunction. B uses から attached to the reason clause (more integrated). C means "I'm busy, so I will go" — the result contradicts the reason; だから must introduce the logical consequence.

Quick Summary

Grammar Point
だから

Meaning
so / therefore / that's why

Position
At the start of the result sentence

Example
今日きょうは忙いそがしいです。だから、明日あした行いきます。きょうはいそがしいです。だから、あしたいきます。Kyō wa isogashii desu. Dakara, ashita ikimasu.
I'm busy today. So I'll go tomorrow.

📝 Core Pattern

Reason sentence (end). だから + Result sentence.

Casual: だ (plain copula) + から = だから

Polite equivalent: ですから (more formal)

⚠️ だから can only start a new sentence or clause. It cannot attach to the end of a verb or adjective like から does.

🧠 Need the clause‑ending “because”? See から (kara) — Reason Particle →

💡 Toggle furigana, hiragana, or romaji for easier reading.

What is だから?

だから is a conjunction that means "so" or "therefore". It's formed from the plain copula だ + the reason particle から, but it behaves as a single fixed word that starts a new sentence. It tells the listener that what follows is the logical result of what was just said.

Always at the beginning of the result sentence.
Works with any politeness level — the reason sentence can be casual or polite.
Do not confuse with から attached directly to a verb/adjective (e.g., 忙いそがしいから = because I'm busy).

明日あしたは休やすみです。だから、映画えいがを見みに行いきます。あしたはやすみです。だから、えいがをみにいきます。Ashita wa yasumi desu. Dakara, eiga o mi ni ikimasu.
Tomorrow is a day off. So, I'm going to see a movie.

⚡ How to Use だから

Part	Content	Example
Reason sentence	Any complete sentence (polite or casual)	天気てんきがいいです。
だから	Conjunction “so / therefore”	だから、
Result sentence	What follows logically	公園こうえんに行いきます。

💡 Usage note: だから can follow either polite or casual sentences. If the first sentence ends with です/ます, the overall tone is polite. If the first sentence ends with だ (casual), the tone is casual. For very formal writing, ですから is preferred.

Examples & Mini Dialogue

今日きょうは雨あめです。だから、傘かさを持もって行いきます。きょうはあめです。だから、かさをもっていきます。Kyō wa ame desu. Dakara, kasa o motte ikimasu.
It's rainy today. So, I'll take an umbrella.

✅ だから connects weather reason → action result.

日本語にほんごが好すきです。だから、毎日まいにち勉強べんきょうしています。にほんごがすきです。だから、まいにちべんきょうしています。Nihongo ga suki desu. Dakara, mainichi benkyō shite imasu.
I like Japanese. That's why I study every day.

🗣️ Mini Dialogue
A: どうして遅おくれましたか。どうしておくれましたか。Dōshite okuremashita ka.
B: 電車でんしゃが遅おくれました。だからです。でんしゃがおくれました。だからです。Densha ga okuremashita. Dakara desu.

⚡ だから vs から (clause‑ending) vs なので

Pattern	Structure	Usage	Example
だから	Sentence end. だから + Result.	Sentence‑initial; separates reason and result clearly	忙いそがしいです。だから、行いけません。
〜から	Reason clause (plain) + から、Result	Integrated; reason clause is subordinate	忙いそがしいから、行いけません。
〜なので	Na‑adj/Noun + なので、Result	For na‑adjectives and nouns (polite version of だから)	静しずかなので、よく勉強べんきょうできます。

⚠️ JLPT Trap: Don't use だから directly after a verb or i‑adjective. You can't say 忙いそがしいだから — that's wrong. Use 忙いそがしいから (without だ). Only nouns and na‑adjectives use だ before から: 休やすみだから = because it's a holiday.

Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

✕ 忙いそがしいだから (adding だ after i‑adjective).

✓ 忙いそがしいから (i‑adj + から — no だ).

✕ Using だから in the middle of a sentence without a period.

✓ だから starts a new sentence or follows a clear break (。). It can also follow て form for softer connection.

✕ だから with an illogical result: 暇ひまです。だから、働はたらきません。

✓ だから must introduce a logical consequence. If you're free, you could work — so "I'm free, therefore I won't work" is not logical. Use でも (but) for contrasts.

JLPT N5 Practice Questions

Score: 0 / 3

1. “I'm tired, so I'll sleep.” Choose the correct use of だから.

2. だから must always start a ________.

3. Which is the correct reason‑result connection?

🎯 JLPT N5 tip: だから and から are both tested in the grammar section. The key difference: だから stands alone and starts a new sentence; から attaches to the end of a reason clause. If you see a blank at the beginning of a sentence, だから is likely the answer.

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About the Instructor

Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.

⚡ Vocabulary Used in This Lesson

Japanese	Reading	Type	English Meaning
忙いそがしい	いそがしい	i‑adjective	busy
休やすみ	やすみ	Noun	holiday, rest
映画えいが	えいが	Noun	movie
雨あめ	あめ	Noun	rain
傘かさ	かさ	Noun	umbrella
持もつ	もつ	Godan verb	to hold, to carry
疲つかれる	つかれる	Ichidan verb	to get tired

Related Grammar

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between だから and ですから?

だから is the casual/neutral form (comes from だ + から). ですから is the polite version (です + から). Use だから in everyday conversation, and ですから in formal presentations or business settings.

Can I use だから after a verb?

No. だから can only start a sentence, not attach to a verb. If you want to attach a reason to a verb directly, use the plain form + から: 疲つかれたから、寝ねます.

Is だから always followed by a comma?

In writing, a comma (、) often follows だから, but it's not mandatory. In speech, there's a slight pause after だから before the result.

Continue Learning

Next: から (kara) — the reason particle.

Learn から →

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