で particle: what is the role of it in this sentence?

Question

犠牲者や建物への大きな被害はないが、これまでの地震と大雪の害に続く今回の地震で、困難な状況が続いている。

could it mean "because of"? I know that で means "in", but I don't know if it can be used in this sentence.

what are the other meaning of で apart from "in" and "with"?

Answer 1

You are correct, the particle で in this sentence has the meaning because of/due to/from/by (depending on context)

"...because this earthquake came after other earthquakes and heavy snows,..."

if you do a search on this site for "particle で" you will get dozens of entries, many of them dealing with で vs. に, but if you search through you will find other grammar constructions using で as well.

Answer 2

Yes, it can mean "because" or refer to a cause. when it only follows a noun.

For example:

出張でアメリカへ行きました

仕事でC++を勉強しました

but you also can use te-form, it also can be a cause.

天気が悪くて、富士山が見えません。

新聞を読んで、国際の状況がすっかりわかりました。

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te-form also be used in order of verbs to declear what's the first thing you did, what's the second thing you did.

朝飯を食べて会社へ行きました。

買い物をして、家へ帰りました。

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You also can use te-form to give a order, and command people to do what you want.

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