Using debido a / debido a que for because of / due to in Spanish

Learn how to express because of in Spanish

To express "because of/due to" in Spanish we can use this connective:

  • Debido a + noun
  • Debido a + noun [+ subordinate clause]
  • Debido a que + phrase

 

Debido a

Debido a is followed by a noun. Bear in mind that this noun can be accompanied by other determiners, like articles, possesives, etc.

Here are some examples:

Muchos jóvenes tienen que emigrar debido a la crisis.Lots of young people have to emigrate because of the crisis.

Lola y Miguel rompieron debido a su egoísmo.Lola and Miguel broke up because of his selfishness.

Dimos el premio a Carmen debido a la creatividad que muestra siempre.We gave the award to Carmen because of the creativity that she always shows.

Notice how in the last example the noun, creatividad, is followed by a subordinate clause "que muestra siempre".

Debido a can be replaced by preposition "por" without changing the meaning:

  • Muchos jóvenes tienen que emigrar por la crisis.
  • Dimos el premio a Carmen por la creatividad que muestra siempre.

 

Debido a que

If we use debido a que, it can never be followed just by a noun, it needs a phrase.

Have a look:

Lola y Miguel rompieron debido a su egoísmo.Lola and Miguel broke up because of his selfishness.

This is incorrect:

Lola y Miguel rompieron debido a que su egoísmo.

Other examples:

Mis padres tuvieron un descuento en el viaje debido a que mis padres son pensionistas.My parents had a discount on the trip because of them being pensioners.

Las ventas subieron debido a que los comerciales hicieron un buen trabajo.The sales went up because the sales people did a good job.

Debido a que can be replaced by "porque" without changing the meaning:

  • Mis padres tuvieron un descuento en el viaje porque mis padres son pensionistas.
  • Las ventas subieron porque los comerciales hicieron un buen trabajo.
Using debido a/debido a que makes the sentence more formal than using por/porque. 

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Examples and resources

Mis padres tuvieron un descuento en el viaje debido a que mis padres son pensionistas.My parents had a discount on the trip because of them being pensioners.
Las ventas subieron debido a que los comerciales hicieron un buen trabajo.The sales went up because the sales people did a good job.
Muchos jóvenes tienen que emigrar debido a la crisis.Lots of young people have to emigrate because of the crisis.
Lola y Miguel rompieron debido a su egoísmo.Lola and Miguel broke up because of his selfishness.
Dimos el premio a Carmen debido a la creatividad que muestra siempre.We gave the award to Carmen because of the creativity that she always shows.
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