Skip to main content
Grammar point
B1CommonCause and EffectWrittenIntermediate

Vietnamese do ... nên Usage (because ... therefore)

do ... nên is commonly used to express 'because ... therefore', essential for learners.

Quick explanation

Quick explanation

do ... nên is commonly used to express 'because ... therefore', essential for learners.

English meanings

  • because ... therefore

Grammar pattern

Do + reason, nên + result

Examples

1

Do trời mưa nên trận đấu bị hoãn.

Because it rained, the match was postponed.

2

Do bận nên tôi trả lời muộn.

Because I was busy, I replied late.

How to use it

do ... nên means 'because ... therefore', more formal and objective than vì ... nên, often seen in announcements, news, and reports.

  • do introduces the cause, nên introduces the result.
  • Suitable for formal or objective explanations.
  • For negative responsibility in casual speech, tại is used; for positive reasons, nhờ is used.

Compared with English

Compared with English

Similar to English 'due to ... therefore', do is more formal and objective than vì.

Common mistakes

Do trời mưa trận đấu.

Do trời mưa nên trận đấu bị hoãn.

After do, a complete result clause with nên is needed.

Do bạn giúp nên tôi đến muộn.

Nhờ bạn giúp nên tôi hoàn thành sớm.

Help from a friend is positive, so nhờ is more appropriate.

Commonly confused grammar

Practice

Multiple choice

Compared to vì ... nên, do ... nên is usually more?

Show answer
  • Formal and objective
  • Casual and playful
  • Comparative

Answer: Formal and objective

Explanation: do is common in formal or objective explanations.

Fill in the blank

Fill in the blank: ____ trận đấu bị hoãn.

Show answer

Answer: Do trời mưa nên trận đấu bị hoãn.

Explanation: do introduces the cause, nên introduces the result.

English to Vietnamese

Translate "Because it rained, the match was postponed." into Vietnamese.

Show answer

Answer: Do trời mưa nên trận đấu bị hoãn.

Explanation: Use do ... nên in the same structure as the example.

True or false

Is this sentence correct? Do trời mưa trận đấu.

Show answer

Answer: False

Explanation: After do, a complete result clause with nên is needed.

Correction

Correct this sentence: Do kẹt xe nên tôi hoàn thành sớm.

Show answer

Answer: Tại kẹt xe nên tôi đến muộn.

Explanation: Traffic jam causes a negative result (being late), so tại is more natural.

Related grammar