What does "a causa de" mean?
The phrase "a causa de" translates to "because of" or "due to." It is used to indicate the cause or reason behind an event or situation. It is a more formal and precise alternative to the common word por, and is especially frequent in written, journalistic, and official contexts.
Examples
1.
¿No sales a causa de la lluvia?
Are you not going out because of the rain? (presente de indicativo)
Are you not going out because of the rain? (presente de indicativo)
2.
De niño, faltaba mucho a la escuela a causa de su asma.
As a child, he missed school a lot because of his asthma. (imperfecto de indicativo)
As a child, he missed school a lot because of his asthma. (imperfecto de indicativo)
3.
El vuelo se canceló a causa del mal tiempo.
The flight was cancelled due to bad weather. (pretérito)
The flight was cancelled due to bad weather. (pretérito)
4.
Muchas personas perderán su trabajo a causa de los nuevos cambios.
Many people will lose their jobs due to the new changes. (futuro)
Many people will lose their jobs due to the new changes. (futuro)
5.
Llegaría tarde a causa del tráfico.
I would be late because of the traffic. (potencial simple)
I would be late because of the traffic. (potencial simple)
6.
Espero que no cierren el colegio a causa de la nieve.
I hope they don't close the school because of the snow. (presente de subjuntivo)
I hope they don't close the school because of the snow. (presente de subjuntivo)
7.
Temía que el proyecto fracasara a causa de la falta de financiación.
She feared the project would fail due to the lack of funding. (imperfecto de subjuntivo)
She feared the project would fail due to the lack of funding. (imperfecto de subjuntivo)
8.
¿Has tenido que cancelar algo a causa del trabajo últimamente?
Have you had to cancel anything because of work lately? (perfecto de indicativo)
Have you had to cancel anything because of work lately? (perfecto de indicativo)
9.
Cuando llegaron los bomberos, el edificio ya había colapsado a causa del fuego.
When the firefighters arrived, the building had already collapsed due to the fire. (pluscuamperfecto de indicativo)
When the firefighters arrived, the building had already collapsed due to the fire. (pluscuamperfecto de indicativo)
10.
Apenas hubieron evacuado la ciudad a causa de la inundación, cesaron las lluvias.
As soon as they had evacuated the city due to the flood, the rain stopped. (pretérito anterior — literary/formal)
As soon as they had evacuated the city due to the flood, the rain stopped. (pretérito anterior — literary/formal)
11.
Para mañana, ya habrán cancelado todos los vuelos a causa de la tormenta.
By tomorrow, they will have cancelled all flights due to the storm. (futuro perfecto)
By tomorrow, they will have cancelled all flights due to the storm. (futuro perfecto)
12.
Habría llegado a tiempo, pero me retrasé a causa de un accidente en la carretera.
I would have arrived on time, but I was delayed due to an accident on the road. (potencial compuesto)
I would have arrived on time, but I was delayed due to an accident on the road. (potencial compuesto)
13.
No creo que hayan cerrado la escuela a causa de la nieve.
I don't think they have closed the school because of the snow. (perfecto de subjuntivo)
I don't think they have closed the school because of the snow. (perfecto de subjuntivo)
14.
Si no hubiera perdido el empleo a causa de la crisis, todo habría sido diferente.
If he hadn't lost his job because of the crisis, everything would have been different. (pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)
If he hadn't lost his job because of the crisis, everything would have been different. (pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)
15.
¡No abandones el tratamiento a causa de los efectos secundarios!
Do not abandon the treatment because of the side effects! (imperativo)
Do not abandon the treatment because of the side effects! (imperativo)