C1 Prepositions & Connectors 16 min read Easy

French Causality: Thanks to vs. Because of (Grâce à vs. À cause de)

Choose grâce à to give credit and à cause de to assign blame in French sentences.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'grâce à' for positive outcomes and 'à cause de' for negative ones to express causality correctly.

  • Grâce à + [noun/pronoun] = Positive cause (e.g., Grâce à toi, j'ai réussi).
  • À cause de + [noun/pronoun] = Negative cause (e.g., À cause de la pluie, on est en retard).
  • Never use 'grâce à' for negative events, even if you are being sarcastic.
Grâce à (😊) / À cause de (☹️) + Noun

Overview

Mastering French causality beyond basic parce que distinguishes advanced learners. At the C1 level, you recognize that selecting between grâce à and à cause de transcends mere vocabulary; it involves a fundamental understanding of emotional attribution to a cause. French obliges you to assign either a positive or negative valence to the reason behind an event, a subtlety often absent in English's blanket because of.

This guide elucidates the precise conditions and implications of using grâce à (thanks to, owing to) versus à cause de (because of, due to), equipping you with the nuance required for authentic, sophisticated expression.

The core distinction lies in the subjectivity of the outcome. Grâce à is reserved for causes leading to a favorable, beneficial, or desired result, reflecting gratitude or positive acknowledgement. Conversely, à cause de signals a cause that precipitates an unfavorable, detrimental, or undesirable outcome, implying blame or regret.

Misusing these can alter the meaning significantly, transforming a statement of fact into a declaration of irony or a perceived insult. Consider the impact: stating C'est grâce à la pluie que notre pique-nique est annulé (It's thanks to the rain that our picnic is cancelled) would immediately convey sarcasm, whereas C'est à cause de la pluie que notre pique-nique est annulé (It's because of the rain that our picnic is cancelled) is a straightforward, albeit regretful, explanation. This careful selection allows for precise communication of your perspective, a hallmark of advanced proficiency.

How This Grammar Works

French, unlike English, inherently imbues many causal prepositions with an emotional or judgmental quality. This linguistic characteristic forces speakers to evaluate the consequence of a cause as either positive or negative when employing grâce à or à cause de. This is not merely a stylistic choice but a grammatical requirement that reflects a deeply ingrained pattern of thought in the language.
The choice between grâce à and à cause de is thus dictated by the speaker's perception of the outcome, rather than its objective nature.
Grâce à literally translates to "thanks to" or "owing to," inherently carrying a positive connotation. It attributes a beneficial outcome to a specific cause, suggesting aid, fortune, or a favorable influence. For instance, if you successfully completed a difficult project, you might say J'ai terminé le rapport à temps grâce à l'aide de mon collègue (I finished the report on time thanks to my colleague's help).
Here, the colleague's help is presented as a positive, enabling factor. This construction highlights the source of benefit and implies gratitude or appreciation for the enabling cause.
In contrast, à cause de translates to "because of" or "due to," invariably carrying a negative connotation. It attributes an undesirable or detrimental outcome to a specific cause, suggesting blame, misfortune, or a problematic influence. If the same project was delayed, you would state Le rapport a été retardé à cause d'un problème technique (The report was delayed because of a technical problem).
The technical issue is clearly identified as the negative, hindering factor. This highlights the source of the problem and often conveys a sense of complaint, frustration, or regret over the impeding cause. Even an objectively neutral event can be framed negatively if its consequences are perceived as such by the speaker; à cause des nouvelles régulations, nous devons revoir toute notre stratégie (because of the new regulations, we have to rethink our entire strategy) expresses the burden of compliance, not the objective existence of regulations.
This principle extends to the broader French causal system. While neutral alternatives exist (e.g., en raison de, du fait de), the default assumption with grâce à and à cause de is that the speaker is expressing a subjective judgment. This reinforces the idea that French is a language rich in nuance, where the precise choice of connector can reveal as much about the speaker's attitude as about the event itself.
Mastering this involves more than memorization; it demands an internalization of this evaluative framework.

Formation Pattern

1
Both grâce à and à cause de function as prepositional phrases, always preceding a noun or a stressed pronoun that denotes the cause. Their structure is straightforward: [Outcome/Result] + [grâce à / à cause de] + [Cause (noun/pronoun)]. A critical aspect of their correct usage involves the mandatory contractions with definite articles that follow, a common stumbling block for learners.
2
When à cause de is followed by a definite article, the preposition de contracts:
3
| Original Form | Contracted Form | Example Usage | English Translation |
4
| :----------------- | :-------------- | :------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------- |
5
| à cause de le | à cause du | Il est fatigué à cause du travail. | He is tired because of the work. |
6
| à cause de la | à cause de la | Elle a pleuré à cause de la tristesse. | She cried because of the sadness. |
7
| à cause de l' | à cause de l' | Nous sommes en retard à cause de l'accident. | We are late because of the accident. |
8
| à cause de les | à cause des | J'ai échoué à cause des erreurs que j'ai commises. | I failed because of the mistakes I made. |
9
Similarly, when grâce à is followed by a definite article, the preposition à contracts:
10
| Original Form | Contracted Form | Example Usage | English Translation |
11
| :----------------- | :-------------- | :---------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------ |
12
| grâce à le | grâce au | J'ai réussi l'examen grâce au professeur. | I passed the exam thanks to the teacher. |
13
| grâce à la | grâce à la | Elle a de la chance grâce à la loterie. | She is lucky thanks to the lottery. |
14
| grâce à l' | grâce à l' | Il a surmonté l'épreuve grâce à l'amour. | He overcame the ordeal thanks to love. |
15
| grâce à les | grâce aux | Ils ont gagné grâce aux efforts de l'équipe. | They won thanks to the team's efforts. |
16
Both grâce à and à cause de can also be followed by stressed pronouns (moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles) when the cause is a person or animated entity. This construction emphasizes the individual responsible for the outcome.
17
J'ai pu terminer grâce à toi. (I was able to finish thanks to you.)
18
Tout est de sa faute, c'est à cause d'elle. (Everything is her fault, it's because of her.)
19
Ils sont partis à cause d'eux-mêmes. (They left because of themselves.)
20
It is imperative to avoid common grammatical errors such as grâce de or à cause à; these constructions are incorrect and indicative of a lack of familiarity with French prepositions. Always remember that these phrases introduce a noun phrase, not a full clause (subject + verb); for clauses, parce que, comme, or puisque are appropriate.

When To Use It

The application of grâce à and à cause de hinges entirely on the speaker's subjective assessment of the outcome. This requires a deliberate choice based on whether the result is perceived as positive, negative, or neutral. Advanced learners must cultivate an intuitive understanding of this emotional weighting.
Use grâce à when the cause leads to a positive, desirable, or beneficial outcome. This phrase is typically used to express gratitude, acknowledge assistance, or credit a favorable circumstance. It implies that the cause was instrumental in achieving something good.
  • Nous avons réussi notre projet grâce à votre soutien indéfectible. (We succeeded in our project thanks to your unwavering support.) – Here, votre soutien is unequivocally positive.
  • Le patient s'est rétabli rapidement grâce aux nouveaux médicaments. (The patient recovered quickly thanks to the new medication.) – The medication is credited for the positive health outcome.
  • J'ai trouvé un appartement en ville grâce à une amie. (I found an apartment in the city thanks to a friend.) – The friend's help is a positive factor.
Use à cause de when the cause leads to a negative, undesirable, or detrimental outcome. This phrase typically implies blame, regret, or acknowledges a problematic influence. It highlights the cause as an impediment or source of difficulty.
  • Le match a été annulé à cause de la forte pluie. (The match was cancelled because of the heavy rain.) – The rain is presented as a negative factor leading to cancellation.
  • Il a perdu son emploi à cause de la restructuration de l'entreprise. (He lost his job because of the company's restructuring.) – The restructuring is identified as the cause of the negative event.
  • J'ai manqué le début du film à cause des embouteillages. (I missed the beginning of the movie because of traffic jams.) – Traffic is the problem here.
At the C1 level, you can deploy these phrases ironically to subvert expectations and add a layer of sophisticated humor or sarcasm. This requires careful consideration of tone and context to avoid misinterpretation.
  • Oh, fantastique ! Grâce à ton conseil, ma plante est morte. (Oh, fantastic! Thanks to your advice, my plant died.) – Clearly sarcastic, attributing a negative outcome to a seemingly positive act.
  • Super, à cause de cette nouvelle application, mon téléphone ne fonctionne plus du tout ! (Great, because of this new app, my phone isn't working at all anymore!) – Sarcasm, blaming a tool meant to be helpful.
When a cause has a neutral impact or when you wish to avoid any emotional coloring, especially in formal or professional contexts, alternatives are preferred:
  • En raison de: The most common and versatile neutral alternative. Often used in administrative or official communication. La réunion est reportée en raison de l'absence du directeur. (The meeting is postponed due to the director's absence.)
  • Du fait de: Similar to en raison de, slightly more formal. L'augmentation des prix est due du fait de la hausse des coûts de production. (The price increase is due to the rise in production costs.)
  • Compte tenu de: Means "given" or "taking into account." Compte tenu de la situation, nous devons prendre des mesures immédiates. (Given the situation, we must take immediate action.)
Choosing the correct causal connector demonstrates not only grammatical accuracy but also a nuanced understanding of French socio-linguistic conventions.

Common Mistakes

Advanced learners often stumble with grâce à and à cause de not due to simple conjugation errors, but from misinterpreting the subtle emotional and contextual cues that dictate their usage. Recognizing these patterns of error is crucial for achieving native-like fluency.
  1. 1Misattributing Emotional Charge: The most pervasive error involves using grâce à for a negative outcome or à cause de for a positive one when no irony is intended. This occurs when learners apply an English-centric "because of" logic without considering the inherent positive/negative valence in French.
  • Incorrect: Grâce à l'incendie, leur maison est détruite. (Unless this is profoundly cynical, it's incorrect.)
  • Correct: À cause de l'incendie, leur maison est détruite.
  • Why it's wrong: Grâce à implies benefit or gratitude. Attributing a house's destruction to something one is thankful for creates a semantic clash, unless explicitly sarcastic.
  1. 1Neglecting Contractions with Articles: French requires obligatory contractions for à and de with definite articles (le, les). Omitting these results in ungrammatical phrasing, a clear indicator of non-native speech.
  • Incorrect: à cause de le bruit, grâce à le soleil.
  • Correct: à cause du bruit, grâce au soleil.
  • Why it's wrong: This fundamental rule of French grammar, applying to all instances of à + le/les and de + le/les, is non-negotiable. It's a phonological reduction integrated into the grammar.
  1. 1Confusing with Parce que: While both express causality, grâce à and à cause de introduce a noun phrase, whereas parce que introduces a subordinate clause containing a subject and a verb. Interchanging them incorrectly is a common structural error.
  • Incorrect: J'ai faim à cause que je n'ai pas mangé.
  • Correct: J'ai faim parce que je n'ai pas mangé. (Here, je n'ai pas mangé is a clause).
  • Alternative correct: J'ai faim à cause de mon estomac vide. (Here, mon estomac vide is a noun phrase).
  • Why it's wrong: Each connector serves a distinct syntactic function. À cause de and grâce à are prepositions; parce que is a conjunction.
  1. 1Mixing up Grâce à and Merci à: These phrases, though semantically related to positive outcomes, serve different functions. Merci à is an expression of direct gratitude to a person or entity. Grâce à explains by what means a positive outcome was achieved, crediting the cause.
  • Incorrect: Merci à mon dur travail, j'ai eu une promotion. (While the sentiment is there, merci à usually precedes a person.)
  • Correct: Grâce à mon dur travail, j'ai eu une promotion. (Crediting the effort).
  • Correct: Merci à ma chef pour cette promotion. (Directly thanking the person).
  • Why it's wrong: Merci à is performative (an act of thanking); grâce à is explanatory (identifying a cause).
  1. 1Overlooking Neutral Alternatives in Formal Contexts: Using à cause de in formal reports, academic papers, or official emails when the cause is not meant to be emotionally charged is inappropriate. This can make the writing sound unduly complain-laden or informal.
  • Informal/Potentially Biased: Le projet est en retard à cause de la bureaucratie.
  • Formal/Neutral: Le projet est en retard en raison de procédures administratives complexes.
  • Why it's wrong: Formal discourse typically prioritizes objectivity. À cause de introduces an unnecessary subjective judgment.
Avoiding these common pitfalls elevates your French from merely understandable to genuinely sophisticated, reflecting a deeper command of the language's nuances.

Real Conversations

Understanding grâce à and à cause de in theory is one aspect; observing their deployment in authentic, modern French communication reveals their full pragmatic scope. These phrases are deeply embedded in various registers, from casual exchanges to formal discourse, often carrying specific implications based on context and tone.

1. Informal and Casual Settings (Texts, Social Media, Daily Chat):

In informal contexts, speakers frequently leverage the inherent emotional charge of grâce à and à cause de to express immediate feelings, gratitude, or frustration. Irony is particularly common here.

- Expressing gratitude in a text:

- « J'ai trop kiffé la soirée hier ! Grâce à toi, j'ai rencontré des gens super cools. » (I loved the party yesterday! Thanks to you, I met some really cool people.)

- Lamenting a situation with friends:

- « Je suis crevé aujourd'hui à cause de notre nuit blanche à réviser. » (I'm exhausted today because of our all-nighter studying.)

- Sarcastic comment on social media:

- « Mon ordi a planté ENCORE ! Grâce à la dernière mise à jour, il est inutilisable. 😡 » (My computer crashed AGAIN! Thanks to the latest update, it's unusable.) – The emoji reinforces the sarcasm.

2. Professional and Formal Contexts (Emails, News Reports, Presentations):

In formal settings, the use of grâce à tends to be maintained for positive attribution, while à cause de is often replaced by more neutral alternatives to preserve objectivity. When à cause de is used, it's typically to attribute clear, undisputed negative causation without undue emotional embellishment.

- Professional Email (Positive Outcome):

- « Cher Monsieur Dupont, je tiens à vous remercier. La conclusion de ce dossier a été rendue possible grâce à votre diligence. » (Dear Mr. Dupont, I wish to thank you. The conclusion of this file was made possible thanks to your diligence.)

- News Report (Neutral Attribution of Negative Cause):

- « La circulation est très perturbée dans la capitale en raison de la manifestation des agriculteurs. » (Traffic is heavily disrupted in the capital due to the farmers' protest.) – Here, en raison de is preferred over à cause de to present a factual cause without explicit blame from the reporter.

- Official Report (Direct Negative Attribution):

- « Les délais de livraison ont été impactés à cause de la pénurie de composants. (Delivery times were impacted because of the component shortage.) – This states a factual negative cause without being overly emotional, acceptable in a report.

3. Nuance and Cultural Insights:

French speakers are highly attuned to the choice between these phrases, often inferring attitude. Using à cause de about a person (à cause de toi) is a direct accusation of blame and can be quite confrontational. Conversely, grâce à toi is a powerful expression of genuine appreciation. The C1 learner understands that these are not interchangeable synonyms for "because of" but tools for sophisticated communication of perspective and sentiment. The ability to deploy them appropriately, including sarcastically, reflects a deep cultural integration and linguistic finesse.

Quick FAQ

Q: Can grâce à be used ironically for a negative outcome?

Absolutely. Using grâce à to attribute a positive cause to an undesirable result is a common form of sarcasm in French, much like in English. The tone, context, and often accompanying non-verbal cues clarify the ironic intent. For example, Ah, grâce à la grève, j'ai raté mon rendez-vous important ! (Ah, thanks to the strike, I missed my important appointment!) clearly conveys frustration, not gratitude.

Q: Is grâce à exclusively for people?

No. While it often credits individuals for assistance, grâce à can attribute positive outcomes to abstract concepts, objects, or even luck. You can say Grâce à la technologie, nous sommes plus connectés (Thanks to technology, we are more connected), or Grâce à mon réveil, je n'ai pas manqué mon vol (Thanks to my alarm clock, I didn't miss my flight), or Grâce au hasard, nous nous sommes rencontrés (Thanks to chance, we met).

Q: What if the cause is truly neutral, such as a scientific fact or a natural phenomenon without emotional impact?

For genuinely neutral causes, especially in formal or objective discourse, it is best to use en raison de, du fait de, or compte tenu de. Using à cause de might inadvertently imply blame or regret where none is intended. For instance, Les glaciers fondent en raison du réchauffement climatique (Glaciers are melting due to global warming) is preferred over ...à cause du réchauffement climatique, which might sound like a complaint about physics.

Q: Can à cause de be used for a person?

Yes, but with significant implications. When à cause de is followed by a person (e.g., à cause de toi, à cause de lui), it strongly implies that the person is directly responsible for the negative outcome, carrying a clear sense of blame or accusation. Use this consciously, as it can be confrontational. For instance, J'ai raté mon examen à cause de toi qui m'as déconcentré (I failed my exam because of you who distracted me) is a direct accusation.

Q: What is the difference between grâce à/à cause de and par (e.g., agir par jalousie)?

Grâce à and à cause de refer to external factors leading to an outcome. Par (by, through) indicates the internal motive, means, or agent of an action, especially with emotions or abstract forces. Il a agi par jalousie (He acted out of jealousy) indicates an internal driving force. Il a été puni par le directeur (He was punished by the director) indicates the agent. This distinguishes par from the external causality of grâce à/à cause de.

Q: How do grâce à and à cause de compare to parce que, comme, and puisque?

Grâce à and à cause de are prepositions that must be followed by a noun phrase (a noun, pronoun, or nominal group). Parce que, comme, and puisque are conjunctions of cause that introduce a complete subordinate clause (a phrase with a subject and a conjugated verb). You cannot use grâce à or à cause de directly before a verb.

  • J'ai réussi grâce à son aide. (noun phrase)
  • J'ai réussi parce qu'il m'a aidé. (clause)
  • Nous sommes partis à cause de la pluie. (noun phrase)
  • Nous sommes partis parce qu'il pleuvait. (clause)
Choosing the correct structure—noun phrase or clause—is fundamental to accurate causal expression in French.

Formation with Articles

Connector Article Resulting Form
Grâce à
le
Grâce au
Grâce à
la
Grâce à la
Grâce à
les
Grâce aux
À cause de
le
À cause du
À cause de
la
À cause de la
À cause de
les
À cause des

Meanings

These are compound prepositions used to introduce the cause of an event or state. The choice depends entirely on the positive or negative nature of the result.

1

Positive Causality

Attributing a favorable outcome to a person, thing, or event.

“Grâce à ce médicament, je vais mieux.”

“Grâce à votre soutien, nous avons gagné.”

2

Negative Causality

Attributing an unfavorable outcome to a person, thing, or event.

“À cause de la grève, le train est annulé.”

“À cause de lui, nous avons raté le film.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Causality: Thanks to vs. Because of (Grâce à vs. À cause de)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Grâce à + Noun
Grâce au soleil
Negative
À cause de + Noun
À cause du vent
Pronoun
Grâce à + Pronoun
Grâce à lui
Pronoun
À cause de + Pronoun
À cause d'elle
Contraction
Grâce à + le
Grâce au
Contraction
À cause de + le
À cause du

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Grâce à votre concours, le projet a abouti.

Grâce à votre concours, le projet a abouti. (Work/Project)

Neutral
Grâce à votre aide, le projet a réussi.

Grâce à votre aide, le projet a réussi. (Work/Project)

Informal
Grâce à toi, on a réussi le projet.

Grâce à toi, on a réussi le projet. (Work/Project)

Slang
Grâce à toi, c'est dans la poche !

Grâce à toi, c'est dans la poche ! (Work/Project)

Causality Compass

Positive (Grâce à)
Grâce au succès Thanks to success
Negative (À cause de)
À cause de l'échec Because of failure
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Examples by Level

1

Grâce à toi, je suis content.

Thanks to you, I am happy.

2

À cause de la pluie, non.

Because of the rain, no.

3

Grâce à mon ami.

Thanks to my friend.

4

À cause de lui.

Because of him.

1

Grâce au soleil, nous sortons.

Thanks to the sun, we are going out.

2

À cause du vent, il fait froid.

Because of the wind, it is cold.

3

Grâce à cette idée, c'est facile.

Thanks to this idea, it is easy.

4

À cause de ce problème, je pars.

Because of this problem, I am leaving.

1

Grâce à votre aide, le projet est fini.

Thanks to your help, the project is finished.

2

À cause de la grève, le bus est en retard.

Because of the strike, the bus is late.

3

Grâce aux efforts de tous, nous avons réussi.

Thanks to everyone's efforts, we succeeded.

4

À cause des bouchons, je suis arrivé tard.

Because of the traffic jams, I arrived late.

1

Grâce à une gestion efficace, l'entreprise a prospéré.

Thanks to efficient management, the company prospered.

2

À cause d'une erreur technique, le système a planté.

Because of a technical error, the system crashed.

3

Grâce à sa persévérance, elle a obtenu le poste.

Thanks to her perseverance, she got the job.

4

À cause de sa négligence, il a perdu ses dossiers.

Because of his negligence, he lost his files.

1

Grâce à la mise en œuvre de ces nouvelles politiques, la situation s'est stabilisée.

Thanks to the implementation of these new policies, the situation has stabilized.

2

À cause de la conjoncture économique défavorable, les investissements ont chuté.

Because of the unfavorable economic climate, investments have fallen.

3

Grâce à une analyse rigoureuse, nous avons évité le pire.

Thanks to a rigorous analysis, we avoided the worst.

4

À cause de l'imprévoyance des autorités, la crise s'est aggravée.

Because of the authorities' lack of foresight, the crisis worsened.

1

Grâce à l'abnégation dont il a fait preuve, le projet a pu aboutir.

Thanks to the self-sacrifice he showed, the project was able to succeed.

2

À cause de l'obsolescence programmée, ces appareils tombent en panne rapidement.

Because of planned obsolescence, these devices break down quickly.

3

Grâce à une synergie exemplaire, les départements ont collaboré efficacement.

Thanks to exemplary synergy, the departments collaborated effectively.

4

À cause de l'inertie administrative, le dossier est resté bloqué.

Because of administrative inertia, the file remained stuck.

Easily Confused

French Causality: Thanks to vs. Because of (Grâce à vs. À cause de) vs Parce que

Learners use it instead of 'à cause de'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Grâce à la pluie

✓

À cause de la pluie

Rain is usually negative.
✗

Grâce à il est venu

✓

Grâce à sa présence

Cannot follow with a verb.
✗

À cause de mon succès

✓

Grâce à mon succès

Success is positive.
✗

Grâce à la crise

✓

À cause de la crise

Crisis is negative.

Sentence Patterns

Grâce à ___, j'ai réussi.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Grâce à toi, j'ai trouvé le resto !

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💡

Check the Noun

Always look at the noun following the connector. If it's a negative thing, use 'à cause de'.

Smart Tips

Check if the noun is positive or negative.

Grâce à la panne... → À cause de la panne...

Pronunciation

À cause d'un [a-koz-dun]

Liaison

Ensure liaison between 'à' and following vowels.

Causal stress

Grâce à [↑] mon ami [↓]

Emphasis on the cause.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Grâce is for Grace (good things), Cause is for Curse (bad things).

Visual Association

Imagine a golden trophy for 'Grâce à' and a dark storm cloud for 'À cause de'.

Rhyme

Grâce à for the win, à cause de for the sin.

Story

Marie won a race (Grâce à son entraînement). But she tripped on a rock (À cause de la pierre). She was happy for the win, but sad for the fall.

Word Web

succèsaidechanceproblèmeerreurretardpluietravail

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about your day: one using 'grâce à' and two using 'à cause de'.

Cultural Notes

French speakers are very precise about the 'connotation' of words.

Grâce comes from Latin 'gratia' (favor).

Conversation Starters

“

Pourquoi es-tu en retard ?

Journal Prompts

Describe a recent success.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

___ la pluie, nous sommes restés chez nous.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: À cause de
Rain is negative.

Score: /1

Practice Exercises

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___ la pluie, nous sommes restés chez nous.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: À cause de
Rain is negative.

Score: /1

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete with the contracted form (au, aux, du, des). Fill in the Blank

Elle a réussi son examen grâce ___ encouragements de ses amis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: aux
Correct the preposition. Error Correction

C'est grâce du beau temps que nous sortons.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est grâce au beau temps que nous sortons.
Reorder the words to make a logical sentence. Sentence Reorder

embouteillages / en retard / suis / à cause / Je / des

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je suis en retard à cause des embouteillages.
Translate to French. Translation

Thanks to you, I am happy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Grâce à toi, je suis heureux.
Which is more formal for a report? Multiple Choice

The meeting is postponed ___ a technical problem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: en raison d'un
Match the cause with the logical connector. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Victoire : grâce à
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Nous avons perdu le match ___ l'arbitre.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: à cause de
Find the mistake. Error Correction

À cause de le mauvais temps, on reste ici.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: À cause du mauvais temps, on reste ici.
Order the sentence. Sentence Reorder

grâce / J'ai / à / progressé / SubLearn / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai progressé grâce à SubLearn.
Translate. Translation

Because of the noise, I can't study.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: À cause du bruit, je ne peux pas étudier.

Score: /10

FAQ (1)

No, it sounds sarcastic or wrong.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Gracias a / A causa de

None.

German moderate

Dank / Wegen

German 'Wegen' can be neutral.

Japanese high

Okagesama de / Sei de

Okagesama de is often used as a standalone phrase.

Arabic high

Bi-fadl / Bi-sabab

Bi-sabab is more neutral than à cause de.

Chinese partial

Duōkuī / Yīnwèi

Chinese doesn't have a dedicated negative-only preposition like 'à cause de'.

English high

Thanks to / Because of

English speakers often use 'thanks to' sarcastically, which is less common in French.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Advanced Adverbs: The -amment and -emment trick
Next
Position of Long Adverbs (parfaitement, rapidement)

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