Last week's commute was better than usual, because there was no traffic. vs because there was no traffic.

Both phrases are correct, but they serve different purposes. The first phrase provides context by referring to a specific time period ('last week'), while the second phrase is more general. The choice between them depends on whether you want to specify the time frame or keep the statement more general.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 1363 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It provides specific information about the time frame ('last week') when the commute was better.

"Last week's commute was better than usual, because there was no traffic."

This phrase is used when you want to specify a particular time frame, in this case, 'last week,' to provide context for the statement about the commute being better due to no traffic.

Examples:

Last month's sales were higher than expected, because of the new marketing campaign.
Yesterday's weather was perfect for a picnic, because it was sunny and warm.
Last year's vacation was unforgettable, because we visited so many amazing places.
Last night's dinner was delicious, because I tried a new recipe.
Last weekend's party was a lot of fun, because everyone had a great time.

Alternatives:

The commute was better than usual because there was no traffic.
The commute last week was better than usual because there was no traffic.
Because there was no traffic, last week's commute was better than usual.
Because there was no traffic, the commute was better than usual last week.
There was no traffic last week, so the commute was better than usual.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It provides a general reason ('no traffic') without specifying a particular time frame.

"because there was no traffic."

This phrase is used when you want to give a reason for something without specifying a specific time frame. It keeps the statement more general and can be used in various contexts.

Examples:

I arrived early because there was no traffic.
She was able to finish her work quickly because there were no interruptions.
We decided to walk instead of taking the bus because there was no traffic.
He got to the airport on time because there were no delays.
The event was a success because there was good planning.

Show examples from the web [+]

6 days ago ... ... away on his bicycle, an act that did not bother the officer because there was no traffic in the area, the woman said that Bloom was “just going ...
because the car stop was unlawful because there was no traffic violation. As they pointed out, lane straddling is not unlawful in California unless it interfered with ...
Apr 24, 2013 ... 5 In its brief, the State argues this subsection does not apply because “there was no traffic present at that time . . . [t]herefore, Defendant could ...
There is quite a difference as compared to a commercial airline terminal because there was no traffic and no crowd of travelers. When I first saw the plane it ...

Alternatives:

Due to the lack of traffic, the commute was better than usual.
The commute was better than usual due to the absence of traffic.
The reason the commute was better than usual was the lack of traffic.
The absence of traffic made the commute better than usual.
The commute was better than usual, thanks to the lack of traffic.

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Last week's commute was better than usual, because there was no traffic. vs because there was no traffic.