Grammar JLPT Level N5 - Lesson 9

Structure of ので:

Verb + ので + Phrase
［い］Adjective + ので + Phrase
［な］Adjective + な + ので + Phrase
Noun + な + ので + Phrase

Details about ので:

ので is a Japanese grammar structure called a conjunction particle. This means that it connects two parts of a sentence 'logically'. The connection that ので makes between (A), and (B), is similar to から, meaning that it is often translated as 'because', or 'since'.
When used after な-Adjectives or nouns, な must precede ので.

今日(きょう)は日曜日(にちようび)なので休(やす)みです。
Since it's Sunday today, It's a day off.
友達(ともだち)が家(いえ)に来(く)るので、部屋(へや)の掃除(そうじ)をする。
Since my friend is coming to my house, I will clean my room.
景色(けしき)が綺麗(きれい)なので、写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)ります。
Since the scenery is beautiful, I will take a picture.
今日(きょう)は寒(さむ)いので、コートを着(き)ます。
Since it is cold today, I will wear a coat.

When used as 'since', ので puts emphasis on the sentence as a whole, or on the effects caused. It then examines those reasons objectively (in a way that is based on facts, rather than feelings or opinions). から tends to be more subjective, and can sound much more vague when used as 'because'.

私(わたし)は弱(よわ)いので、ジムへ行(い)きます。
I go to the gym because I am weak. (Being that I am weak)
野菜(やさい)が嫌(きら)いだから、食(た)べません。
I don't eat vegetables because I don't like them. (From that vegetables are disliked)

We can see here that から is not quite as strong as ので. This relates back to the base meaning of から being 'from', rather than 'because'.

ので

Usage Notes for ので:

ので can sometimes be seen as んで, which is a more casual variation. Also, unlike many grammar points that connect to verbs, ので may be used with the ます form. This is something that is unique to conjunction particles.

今(いま)テストがあるんで、後(あと)で電話(でんわ)します。
Because I have a test now, I will call you later.
明日(あした)はお客(きゃく)が来(き)ますので、掃除(そうじ)をします。
Since a guest is coming tomorrow, I am going to clean.