正因为…才 / 正因为…所以【zhèng yīnwèi … cái / zhèng yīnwèi … suǒyǐ】

正 "exactly" in front of 因为 narrows the reason to this one thing: "precisely because". The second clause takes 才 after its subject, or 所以 at its start. The reason is often one the listener would expect to lead the other way.

Turning an objection round

A common move takes the reason someone gives against a thing and makes it the reason for it.

正因为如此

正因为如此 points back to the situation just described: "for that very reason". It is common in writing.

正是因为 adds 是 for extra weight and means the same.

Where 才 goes

才 is an adverb and follows the subject of the second clause.

• × 正因为我们是朋友，才我跟你说实话 → 正因为我们是朋友，我才跟你说实话

正 goes in front of 因为, not after it.

• × 因为正他年轻 → 正因为他年轻