이유를 밝히거나 왜 그런지 설명할 때는 because를 써요. 이유에 해당하는 내용은 because 바로 뒤에 와요.
because는 이유를 나타내요
We stayed home because it was raining.
She's happy because she passed her exam.
He left early because he felt sick.
so는 결과를 나타내요
결과나 그 뒤에 일어난 일을 나타낼 때는 so를 써요. 결과에 해당하는 내용은 so 바로 뒤에 와요.
It was raining, so we stayed home.
She studied hard, so she passed.
He felt sick, so he left early.
해 보세요: Amina는 집에 머물렀던 '이유'를 설명하고 싶어 해요. 이유는 바로 비였어요. 이유를 나타내는 것은 무엇일까요? (I stayed home because it was raining. / I stayed home so it was raining.) 정답: I stayed home because it was raining. — 집에 있었던 이유를 설명하고 있으므로 because를 써서 because it was raining이라고 해요. "So it was raining"을 쓰면 집에 머문 결과로 비가 내렸다는 뜻이 되어 말이 되지 않아요.
해 보세요: Hiroshi는 그 결과로 자신이 '한 행동'을 말하고 싶어 해요. 비가 먼저 내렸고, 집에 머문 것은 그 뒤에 일어난 결과예요. 결과를 나타내는 것은 무엇일까요? (It was raining, so I stayed home. / It was raining, because I stayed home.) 정답: It was raining, so I stayed home. — 결과(그 뒤에 한 행동)를 나타내므로 so를 써서 so I stayed home이라고 해요. "Because I stayed home"이라고 하면 자신이 집에 머물렀기 때문에 비가 왔다는 뜻이 되어 앞뒤가 바뀌어요.
although는 예상 밖의 일을 나타내요
첫 번째 내용 뒤에 일반적인 예상과 다른 뜻밖의 일이 이어질 때는 although를 써요. 문장 맨 앞에 올 수도 있고(쉼표 필요), 문장 중간에서 연결할 수도 있어요(쉼표 불필요).
Although it was raining, we went out. (surprising, you'd expect us to stay in)
She passed although she didn't study.
Although the hotel was expensive, we enjoyed it.
해 보세요: 날씨가 궂으면 보통 실내에 있을 거라고 생각하죠. 하지만 Mei와 친구들은 그래도 밖으로 나갔어요. 예상 밖의 일이에요. 예상 밖의 상황을 나타내는 것은 무엇일까요? (Although it was raining, they went out. / Because it was raining, they went out.) 정답: Although it was raining, they went out. — 비가 오는데 외출한 것은 예상 밖의 일이므로 although를 써서 Although it was raining, they went out이라고 해요. "Because it was raining"은 비가 외출한 이유가 되어 뜻밖의 상황을 나타내지 못해요.
but은 대조를 나타내요
서로 다르거나 뜻밖인 두 생각을 연결할 때는 but을 써요. But은 문장 중간에 들어가며 보통 앞에 쉼표를 찍어요. although처럼 대조를 나타내지만, although는 문장 맨 앞에 올 수 있는 반면 but은 중간에서만 연결할 수 있어요.
It was raining, but we went out.
The hotel was expensive, but we enjoyed it.
I was tired, but I finished my work.
Not "But it was raining, we went out." — say "It was raining, but we went out.". But은 중간에서 연결하며, although처럼 문장 맨 앞에 올 수 없어요.
해 보세요: 방이 좁았어요. 불편할 거라고 예상할 수 있죠. 하지만 편안했어요. 두 생각이 서로 달라요. 대조를 나타내는 것은 무엇일까요? (The room was small, but it was comfortable. / The room was small, so it was comfortable.) 정답: The room was small, but it was comfortable. — 두 내용이 서로 다르므로(좁지만 편안함) but을 써서 대조를 나타내요: small, but comfortable. "So it was comfortable"은 방이 좁아서 편안했다는 뜻이 되므로 문맥에 맞지 않아요.
연결하는 말은 하나만 쓰기
연결하는 말은 두 개가 아니라 하나만 골라 써야 해요. because ... so를 함께 쓰거나 although ... but을 함께 쓰지 마세요.
Because it rained, we stayed home. (not "Because it rained, so we stayed")
Although I was tired, I went out. (not "Although I was tired, but I went out")
Not "Although I was tired, but I went out." — say "Although I was tired, I went out.". Although 자체로 이미 뜻밖의 상황을 나타내므로 but까지 함께 쓸 필요가 없어요.
해 보세요: Which one is right? (Because it was late, we went home. / Because it was late, so we went home. / Although it was late, but we went home.) 정답: Because it was late, we went home. — 연결하는 말은 하나로 충분해요: Because it was late, we went home. "Because ... so"나 "Although ... but"처럼 연결하는 말을 겹쳐 쓰면 안 되며, 하나만 써야 해요.