why
part of speech
adverb (why — asks for a reason); conjunction (the reason why); noun (the whys — rare); interjection (Why, hello!)
meaning for a pupil
1) A question word that asks for the reason or cause of something. tree →
2) Used to join a reason to a sentence: «That is why I am late.» tree →
3) An old-fashioned word that shows surprise: «Why, it's you!» tree →
4) (casual) «Why not?» means yes, let's; «y» or «y tho» is texting for why. tree →
5) (casual) «Why me?» is a complaint about bad luck; «why oh why» shows despair. tree →
6) (rough) «Why the hell…?» or «why on earth…?» shows anger or shock: «Why the hell did you eat all 8?» tree →
7) (formal) «For what reason», «on what grounds», «account for» and «identify the principal reason for» are stiff ways to ask why: «Account for the observed change.» tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: Used for questions, often from God or people in distress ("Why art thou wroth?"). In the primary lessons: In science, «why» questions ask for causes and explanations: why the sky is blue, why ice floats. In maths, «Explain why» means show your reasoning, not just the answer. In stories, a «why» question often starts the mystery. In casual talk: «y tho», «why not», «why u late». In the exam voice: «Identify the principal reason for…», «Justify your answer», «Account for…». Phrases: why not, that is why, the reason why, why on earth, how and why.
examples
- And the LORD said unto Cain: 'Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? (Torah GEN.4.6, JPS 1917) tree →
- Why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.' (Torah EXO.2.20, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Moses said: 'I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.' (Torah EXO.3.3, JPS 1917) tree →
- Why did the knees receive me? (Writings JOB.3.12, JPS 1917) tree →
- And why do thine eyes wink? (Writings JOB.15.12, JPS 1917) tree →
- Awake, why sleepest Thou, O Lord? (Writings PSA.44.24, JPS 1917) tree →
- Why is the sky blue? tree →
- Why did you leave the door open? tree →
- That is why we wear helmets. tree →
- Explain why your answer is correct. tree →
- I don't know why the plant died. tree →
- Why not try again tomorrow? tree →
- Why, what a lovely surprise! tree →
- Nobody knows why the dog barked. tree →
- why u late, bus was at 8:40 (casual) tree →
- «Pizza?» «Why not!» (casual) tree →
- Why the hell did you eat all 8 cookies? (rough) tree →
- Identify the principal reason for the evaporation of water from an open vessel. (formal exam) tree →
- "Why are you knocking me about?" tree →
note
«Why» questions are answered with «because». «Explain why» in a test wants a reason, not just a number. Do not confuse with «which» or «what». In a question the verb comes before the subject: «Why are you sad?» not «Why you are sad?» (but casual talk often says «why you sad?»). «Why» does not change the numbers in a maths problem; it asks you to give the reason. «Why not?» is often a yes. Formal «justify» and «account for» = say why.
In the corpora
- And the LORD said unto Cain: 'Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
- Why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.'
- And Moses said: 'I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.'
- And why have ye brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, to die there, we and our cattle?
- Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he had no son?
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «why» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.