# こともあって: partly because; also because of; plus the reason for ~ > Learn how to use こともあって, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning partly because, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-koto-mo-atte/ **こともあって** means **partly because; also because of; plus the reason for ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to explain that a situation has multiple contributing factors, and you are highlighting one of them without claiming it’s the sole cause. This grammar point often appears in essays, explanations, formal conversations, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to express that something happened partly because of a certain reason, **こともあって** is a useful pattern because it adds natural softness and a sense of layered causality to your Japanese.
こともあって doesn’t point to a single, definitive cause — it suggests that several factors are at play, and the reason you’re giving is one meaningful piece of the puzzle.
## What does こともあって mean? Use **こともあって** when you want to express that a result or situation is influenced by a particular reason, but you’re not saying that reason is the only explanation. It often appears when listing or implying multiple causes, and it softens the causal link. Natural translations include: - partly because; also because of; plus the reason for ~ - given that (along with other things) - what with (this) and all The best translation depends on the sentence. The core idea is always **“this is one reason among others.”** ## How to form こともあって
Verb (plain) + こともあって
い-adjective (plain) + こともあって
な-adjective + な + こともあって
Noun + もあって or ということもあって
Examples of the pattern: - 雨(あめ)が降っ(ふっ)たこともあって - 駅(えき)から遠い(とおい)こともあって - 便利(べんり)なこともあって - 経験(けいけん)もあって / 経験(けいけん)ということもあって The form before the grammar point matters. In JLPT questions, the wrong answer choices often use a similar meaning but attach it to the wrong type of word. ## When is こともあって used? Use **こともあって** in situations like: - explaining that a situation has multiple causes, and you’re naming one of them - giving a reason while leaving room for other, unstated factors - reporting events where several circumstances converged (news, storytelling, analysis) - expressing observations in a calm, explanatory tone Tone and register: - neutral to slightly formal; works in both written and spoken Japanese - naturally softens a statement and avoids sounding insistent or single-minded - common in newspaper articles, essays, explanatory texts, and everyday conversation when you want to sound thoughtful ## こともあって example sentences
昨日(きのう)は雨(あめ)だったこともあって、店(みせ)が空(そら)いていた。
Partly because it rained yesterday, the shop was empty.
reason · contributing factor
駅(えき)から遠(とお)いこともあって、家賃(やちん)が安(あん)い。
Also because it’s far from the station, the rent is cheap.
multiple factors
経験(けいけん)が豊(ゆたか)かなこともあって、仕事(しごと)が早(はや)い。
Partly because of his extensive experience, he works fast.
quality · contributing cause
交通(こうつう)の便(びん)がいいこともあって、この町(まち)は人気(にんき)がある。
Partly because the transportation is convenient, this town is popular.
reason for popularity
値段(ねだん)が手頃(てごろ)なこともあって、先月(せんげつ)よく売(うり)れた。
Partly because the price was affordable, it sold well last month.
one factor among others
出張(しゅっちょう)が続(つづく)いたこともあって、体力(たいりょく)が衰えた。
Partly because business trips continued one after another, my strength declined.
accumulation of reasons
After reading each sentence, ask what job **こともあって** is doing: it’s signalling one contributing reason, not the whole story. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation. ## Nuance of こともあって The key nuance is **“this is one reason among several.”** When you use **こともあって**, you’re deliberately softening the causal relationship. You avoid the impression that you’re oversimplifying a complex situation. This matters because learners often mistake it for a straightforward reason marker like から or ので. But こともあって carries an extra layer: *other things also contributed, and I’m giving you one of them.* This is especially useful when the speaker wants to sound modest, thoughtful, or neutral. For example: - 天気(てんき)もあって人(ひと)が少なかっ(すくなかっ)た → The weather was one reason, but maybe school holidays ended or it was early morning, etc. - In explanations, it often pairs with other implied reasons, and listeners naturally understand that the list isn’t exhaustive. ## こともあって vs し Both **こともあって** and **し** can list multiple reasons, but they work differently.
こともあって
implies several factors; the stated reason is one piece of a bigger picture; the focus is on the resulting situation
vs
し
explicitly lists multiple reasons in parallel; often used with more than one clause; the focus is on the accumulation of reasons themselves
Quick contrast examples:
こともあって
経験(けいけん)が浅い(あさい)こともあって、ミスが多い(おおい)。
Partly because of inexperience, there are many mistakes.
し
経験(けいけん)が浅い(あさい)し、指示(しじ)も不(ふ)明瞭(めいりょう)だし、ミスが多い(おおい)。
He’s inexperienced, and the instructions are unclear, so there are many mistakes.
If both translations seem possible, check the tone. Is the speaker focusing on a single contributing factor within a larger context, or are they rattling off a series of reasons? The tone often tells you which grammar point is natural. ## Common mistakes with こともあって
❌
雨(あめ)が降っ(ふっ)たこともあって、傘(かさ)を持っ(もっ)て来(こ)なかった。
✅
雨(あめ)が降っ(ふっ)たのに、傘(かさ)を持っ(もっ)て来(こ)なかった。
Using こともあって for a direct cause of a personal action without implying multiple factors sounds unnatural. The rain would be a reason to bring an umbrella, not a reason for failing to bring one; a contrastive pattern like のに is needed.
❌
便利(べんり)こともあって、この店(みせ)が好き(すき)だ。
✅
便利(べんり)なこともあって、この店(みせ)が好き(すき)だ。
With な-adjectives, you must include な before こともあって. Dropping the な is a typical attachment error.
❌
彼(かれ)は親切(しんせつ)なこともあって、私(わたくし)は彼(かれ)が大好き(だいすき)だ。 (as a single, emphatic cause)
✅
彼(かれ)は親切(しんせつ)なので、私(わたくし)は彼(かれ)が大好き(だいすき)だ。
If you want to state a clear, strong reason without implying other factors, a direct ので/から pattern is more appropriate.
A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with **こともあって**, then rewrite it with **し** or **ので**. If the meaning or tone changes, explain that difference in your own words. ## Is こともあって on the JLPT?
N1
Yes. こともあって is commonly taught as JLPT N1 grammar.
✔ recognize it in complex reading passages ✔ understand its nuance as a soft, contributing reason ✔ differentiate it from direct cause patterns
That means learners should be able to: - recognize it in reading - understand its nuance in context - use it in simple original sentences For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning. ## Practice questions for こともあって
1
Use こともあって to explain why a restaurant you like is always crowded, mentioning one factor like location or menu.
build context
2
You want to say you’re tired. Use こともあって to connect one reason (e.g., late nights, hard work) without claiming it’s the only cause.
soften a statement
3
A project didn’t go well. Write a sentence using こともあって to mention one contributing factor, then add another reason using し to contrast the two patterns.
compare with し
4
Think of a skill you’re good at. Explain it using こともあって and a noun (e.g., 経験(けいけん)もあって or 習慣(しゅうかん)もあって), hinting that other factors helped too.
noun + もあって
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear. ## Learning path for こともあって
1
Master the formation: write out a short example for each word-type (verb, い‑adj, な‑adj, noun) without looking at the chart.
2
Read three of the example sentences above out loud. After each, say aloud what other reasons might exist — that forces the “one of several” nuance into your mind.
3
Compare こともあって with し by making a mini-dialogue where one speaker uses し to list reasons and another responds by summarizing with こともあって.
4
Write a short paragraph about a current event or personal situation. Use こともあって once, then replace it with から and notice how the feel changes — you’ll likely find から sounds too blunt or single-minded.
5
Finally, check whether you can combine こともあって with the related grammar points below in a longer explanation.
## Related grammar to review next - [ごとく](/blog/n1-koto-gotoku/) — because it also uses the formal こと-based structure common at N1 level, and both patterns add a literary or explanatory tone. - [この上(うえ)ない](/blog/n1-koto-kono-ue-nai-kono-ue-nai-kono-ue-naku/) — because it shares the こと element and expresses a high degree of something, useful in sentences where you might soften the claim with こともあって. - [なしに](/blog/n1-koto-nashi-ni/) — because it deals with the absence of something as a factor; you can contrast “なしに (without)” with “もあって (partly due to)” to see how presence/absence shapes an outcome. - [ことのないように](/blog/n1-koto-no-nai-you-ni/) — because it’s another こと-based expression that deals with prevention or avoidance, and when combined with こともあって you can explain complex cause-and-effect chains. ## Learn こともあって with Hane If you want to review **こともあって** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)