Difference between Parce Que and Car

In French, what’s the difference between parce que, car, en effet, and puisque? Many students have a problem between these words because they are used in very similar situations, so I’ll offer a quick explanation!

Parce Que

Parce que introduces a cause or reason. It’s also less formal and more universally accepted as the English equivalent for the word because. Parce que has the ability to start a sentence which is something you can’t do with car.

Take a look at a few example sentences using parce que:

La pomme? Je l’ai mangée parce que j’avais faim.

The apple? I ate it because I was hungry.

Parce qu’elle est mignonne, elle gagne plus que Pauline.

Because she is cute, she earns more than Pauline.

Car

Car is a justification or explanation of something. It is definitely more formal than parce que and is written more than spoken. In English this could be translated into for or because.

Méfie-toi car il est violent.

Be wary for he is violent.

Puisque

Puisque could replace both parce que and car but its usage implies that the fact is already known or very obvious. In English, puisque is best represented by the word “since,” and it can start a sentence.

Vous ne pouvez pas l’acheter puisqu’il n’y a pas assez d’argent!

You can’t buy it because (since) there isn’t enough money!

Puisqu’il y a une grève, il n’est pas nécessaire que vous alliez au travail.

Since there’s a strike, it’s not necessary to come to work.

(À cause de la grève = due to the strike, could also work)

En Effet

In certain situations this word can loosely mean “because”. En effet introduces a confirmation. It’s translated to in fact.

Elle n’a pas mangé votre barre de chocolat, en effet, elle est allergique au chocolat.

She didn’t eat your chocolate bar, because she’s allergic to chocolate.

En effet is similar to the phrase, en fait, which I highlighted in my article: 25 French Slang Words You Don’t Learn in French Class.

There you go there’s the difference between parce que, car, puisque and en effet in French! Questions or comments can be posted below without any special subscription required.