In English, there are several “premise indicators” which show where a reason or cause is being given:
Some premise indicators must be followed by a full sentence:
- because
- since
- in that
- as
- given that
- seeing that
- for the reason that
These premise indicators all begin dependent clauses, which may be the first or second clause in a sentence, e.g.:
- As he was an enthusiast of Classical culture, Freud gave the parts of the mind Latin names.
- Freud gave the parts of the mind Classical names as he was an enthusiast of Latin culture.
Some premise indicators must be followed by a noun or noun phrase
- because of
- due to
- as indicated by
- owing to
- consequent upon
The order of such clauses can also be reversed:
- Freud gave the parts of the mind Latin names due to his enthusiasm for Classical culture.
- Due to his enthusiasm for Classical culture, Freud gave the parts of the mind Latin names
These premise indicators may also be followed by the phrase “the fact that” + fs, in which case they may also function as subordinating conjunctions.
- Owing to the fact that he was an enthusiast of Classical culture, Freud gave the parts of the mind Latin names.
- Freud gave the parts of the mind Latin names owing to the fact that he was an enthusiast of Classical culture.
The coordinating conjunction “for” is also a premise indicator, but can only be used after a comma and between two independent clauses, where the first clause is the result and the second is the reason or cause:
- Freud gave the parts of the mind Latin names, for he was an enthusiast of Classical culture.