...dado que...

Question

Hola a todos - Hi all.

I´ve seen the Spanish phrase ...dado que... around a few times lately.

I´m trying to better figure out the meaning. Sometimes, it seems to be pretty literally like the English phrase ¨given that¨, and other times more like because or since.

I´d like to better understand if it is really more like the plain, neutral English ¨given that¨, or if perhaps it has more of a ¨because¨ or ¨since¨ sentiment.

Any insight or examples appreciated.

Thanks and Gracias

Roger

Answer 1

I'm just going to share my understanding of the expression dado que.

Since it literally means "given that" I think it would mean "because" in a situation when you are referring to the cause of something specific as a "give" piece of knowledge or event. "Given that you had the accident last week, your insurance rates may go up." (Here I would use dado que). Also in a sentence like "Given that you have explained the subject so thoroughly, no doubt your students will understand it." In these examples "Since" could also be used. My "educated" guess is that it is quite similar to English usage.

The one that gets me is pues used as "because".

I hope you get more responses and I'm sorry I couldn't come up with Spanish sentences.

Thanks Jubilado. - rogspax, Sep 23, 2013

Why does it get you that pues = because? - chileno, Sep 23, 2013

I don't have a feel for it. I always used "pues" in the expression "Pues entonces..." meaning "Well then..." and I would never say "Because then..." I need more examples. - Jubilado, Sep 23, 2013

Answer 2

Given the fact that jubilado explained it, I shouldn't be answering to this, right?

But, what the heck, since I did it, I would like to ask you, given that I re-read your post, what does "given that" mean in English? Never mind in Spanish...

Jaja. I think it's OK. I think we use "given-that" to set the scenario, or explicitly recount the context or background on something, before going on to give our opinion. Sometimes in the sense of just explanation,and ohers, perhaps as justification. - rogspax, Sep 23, 2013

Exactly as in Spanish, you can use , since, because, given that etc. - chileno, Sep 23, 2013

Answer 3

[Revise my English]

• Dado que chileno y Jubilado ya han respondido de manera tan acertada a tu pregunta, solo me queda presentarte algún ejemplo en español. - Given (the fact) that chileno and Jubilado have already answered your question in a such correct way, the only thing left for me is to give some example in Spanish.

I have to say that the use of dado que as porque is not very common or, at least, examples don't come to my head fluent enough, which makes me think that I don't read it or hear it often. But here we go:

• Los abogados no tenían nada que ofrecer a su cliente puesto que / dado que / porque las pruebas eran abrumadoras en su contra. - The lawyers had nothing to offer to their client because there were overwhelming evidence against him.

• No he tenido más remedio que dar media vuelta regresar puesto que / dado que / porque tu marido no quería prestarme dinero para gasolina. - I had no choice other than turn around because your husband wouldn't lend me money for gas.

dar media vuelta was OK. :) - chileno, Sep 22, 2013

It has todo with context, not so much of what Julian says but the way you are relateing the whole thing. - chileno, Sep 22, 2013

Thanks. Examples are always helpful. - rogspax, Sep 23, 2013

Answer 4

No he tenido más remedio que dar media vuelta puesto que / dado que / porque tu marido no quería prestarme dinero para gasolina.

This frase gives me a giggle because dar la media vuelta is normally used with affairs of the heart, ie: to turn and walk away from someone in a relationship. So my first impression is that of a guy having an affair with a woman whose husband refuses to give him money for gasoline to visit her.

In this case retornar / regresar would cause less confusion, but less humor.

Got it ;) - RelaxingCup, Sep 22, 2013

:) - rogspax, Sep 23, 2013