/ˈriːzən/
Translation
The fact that explains why something happens or why someone does something.
Word origin
Comes from the Old French 'reson', from the Latin 'ratio', meaning thinking or judgement.
- Origin
- Old French
- Root
- reson
Grammar
Examples
.
Here 'reason' means the thing that explains why she was late.
.
Here 'reason' means the explanation for wanting to leave.
.
Here 'reasons' is the plural, meaning more than one explanation.
A reason is what explains why something is true or why a person acts in a certain way. We often ask for it with the question word "why".
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(3)Grammar articles
(22)British vs American grammar: have got, gotten, the team are, and the other quiet differences
Causative have and get in English: have something done, get something done and having someone do it
Cleft sentences in English: it was X who, what I need is, and how to move the emphasis
Countable and uncountable nouns in English: advice, information, news and the ones you simply have to learn
Discourse markers in English: well, anyway, actually, mind you and by the way
Future in the past: was going to, would, was about to, and the grammar of plans that failed
Gradable and ungradable adjectives: why very furious sounds wrong, and which intensifier goes where
Who, What, Where, When, Why and How: The English Question Words
Inversion and word order in English: the subject-verb-object spine and when it flips
Linking words in English: however, although, even though, despite and therefore
Nominalisation in English: arrive becomes arrival, decide becomes decision, and why written English turns actions into things
Participle clauses in English: -ing and -ed clauses, and the dangling participle trap
Passive voice in English: rules, examples and when to use it
Past continuous tense: was and were plus -ing, and when to use it instead of the past simple
Past perfect tense: had plus past participle, and when English actually needs it
Phrasal Verbs with Get: 16 Meanings You Actually Need
Prepositions in English: place, time and movement explained
Quantifiers in English: some, any, much, many and more
Question tags in English: the mirror rule, aren't I, and tags after let's and imperatives
Reporting verbs in English: admit, deny, suggest, promise, and the pattern welded to each one
Time clauses in English: when, while, as soon as, until, before and after
Wish and if only in English: wish + past, wish + past perfect, wish + would, and why I wish I would is wrong
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueEnglish · Free printables
reason: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the English word "reason" (The fact that explains why something happens or why someone does something.): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 8.