28/8/18 Because and because of

Because is a conjunction. It is usually used at the beginning of a clause before a subject and verb.

We didn’t go out because it was raining.
She was happy because she won the prize.
Because of is a two-word preposition. It is used before a noun or a pronoun.

Compare:

We didn’t go out because of the rain.

Because and its clause can go either before or after the main clause.

He went abroad because he won a scholarship.
Because he won a scholarship, he went abroad.