TOEIC Grammar Trap · Part 5

TOEIC Trap: Because vs Because Of

Because and because of both show a reason. The trap is what comes after them.

This page teaches the main sentence-level choice. For deeper reason connectors such as because, because of, and due to, continue to Because / Because Of / Due To. For reason versus contrast logic, continue to Because vs Although.

We cancelled the event because the weather was dangerous.

We cancelled the event because of the dangerous weather.

Core TOEIC rule: Because is followed by a reason sentence. Because of is followed by a reason thing.

The 7-second choice

Do not translate the whole sentence first. Look at the words after the blank.

because + sentencebecause the meeting was cancelled
because of + thingbecause of the cancellation
due to + thingdue to bad weather

Because: followed by a reason sentence

Use because when the reason has its own small sentence after it.

The shipment was delayed because the truck broke down.

We changed the schedule because several staff members were absent.

The client was satisfied because the team responded quickly.

Fast check: if you can see a person or thing doing something after the blank, because is often the direction.

Because of: followed by a reason thing

Use because of when the reason is a thing, event, situation, or short phrase.

The shipment was delayed because of heavy traffic.

We changed the schedule because of staff shortages.

The client was satisfied because of the team’s quick response.

Fast check: if the reason after the blank is not a full sentence, check because of.

The common TOEIC trap

TOEIC often gives you a sentence where both answers feel close in meaning. The grammar after the blank decides the answer.

Correct: The office closed early because the storm became severe.

Correct: The office closed early because of the severe storm.

Trap: The office closed early because of the storm became severe.

Small words around the blank matter

Look for articles, possessives, and full sentence patterns after the blank.

the / a / itsoften points to a reason thing
manager approvedreason sentence
heavy trafficreason thing
the delayreason thing
sales increasedreason sentence
staff shortagesreason thing

Quick TOEIC check

1. The flight was delayed ___ heavy snow.

2. The flight was delayed ___ heavy snow blocked the runway.

3. The meeting was postponed ___ the manager was unavailable.

4. The meeting was postponed ___ the manager’s absence.

Fast-reader mistake

Fast readers often see the reason and choose too quickly. But TOEIC is not asking only whether the sentence has a reason. It is asking whether the reason is a sentence or a thing.

Bad shortcut: “This gives a reason, so because is fine.”

Better shortcut: “After the blank, do I see a sentence or a reason thing?”

One-second tool

Use this shortcut:

because + reason sentence.

because of + reason thing.

due to + reason thing.

Final takeaway

TOEIC because questions are not only meaning questions. They are structure questions.

Look after the blank, name the reason type, and move on.

🔍 SEO FAQ — Because vs Because of What is the difference between “because” and “because of”? “Because” is followed by a full sentence. “Because of” is followed by a noun or noun phrase. How can I know if I should use “because” or “because of”? Check what comes after: if it’s a sentence with a subject and verb, use “because.” If it’s just a noun, use “because of.” Can I say “because of he was late”? No. That’s incorrect. Use “because he was late” or “because of his lateness.” Is “because of” always followed by a noun? Yes. “Because of” must be followed by a noun or noun phrase, not a full sentence. Can I start a sentence with “because of”? Yes. For example: “Because of the storm, the meeting was canceled.” What’s wrong with “because of it was raining”? It’s incorrect because “because of” cannot be followed by a sentence. Use “because it was raining” or “because of the rain.” How do I avoid the ‘because vs because of’ mistake in TOEIC? Look at what comes after the blank. If there’s a verb, use “because.” If not, use “because of.” Which is more formal: because or because of? Both are neutral in tone. Neither is considered more formal in TOEIC. Is it okay to use “due to” instead of “because of”? Sometimes yes, but TOEIC tests them separately. Use “because of” unless you’re sure. Can “because” come at the beginning of a sentence? Yes. For example: “Because he was late, we started without him.” What’s the TOEIC trick with “because” and “because of”? TOEIC gives you both as choices. The trick is to test your understanding of structure, not just meaning. Why does “because of” need a noun? It’s a fixed phrase that connects to a cause, not a full action. Is “because of rain” correct? Yes. “Rain” is a noun, so this is a correct use of “because of.” Is “because it rained” correct? Yes. That’s a proper use of “because” followed by a full sentence. Can I use “because” without a subject? No. “Because” must be followed by a subject and verb. Can I say “The match was postponed because the rain”? No. That’s incorrect. It should be “because of the rain” or “because it rained.” Why did TOEIC mark “because of he was late” as wrong? Because you used “because of” with a sentence. It should be “because he was late” or “because of his lateness.” What part of TOEIC tests “because vs because of”? Mainly Part 5 (grammar fill-ins) and sometimes in Part 3/4 listening. Is there a shortcut to check between “because” and “because of”? Yes. If what follows could be a full sentence, use “because.” If it’s just a noun, use “because of.” Can I just memorize examples to get this right? That helps, but spotting whether what follows is a sentence or not is faster and more reliable.