Reason or fee
/ˈriːzən ɔr fiː/
noun phraseB2
Definition
The phrase "reason or fee" includes two different ideas. A "reason" is why something happens or why someone does something. A "fee" is money paid for a service or permission. This phrase might be used when talking about explaining why something costs money or what the payment is for.
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See It in Action
Reason: The cause or explanation for something
- •She gave a good reason for being late.
- •What is the reason for your decision?
- •There is no reason to worry.
Fee: Money paid for a service or permission
- •The doctor charges a fee for each visit.
- •You must pay a fee to enter the museum.
- •The school fee is due next month.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "reason" like "why" (A1 word), the cause or explanation for an action or event.
- ✓Picture someone asking "Why?" to understand the cause behind something.
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to know why you must do a task or pay money.
- ✓Sounds like "REE-zun or FEE" → Imagine someone asking "Why or how much?" before agreeing.
- ✓Think of a shop where you ask the reason for the price or the fee you must pay.
- ✓NOT like "excuse" (which can be false or weak), a "reason" is a real explanation.
- ✓NOT like "cost" (which is the amount), a "fee" is a specific charge for a service.
- ✓"Reason" is about explanation; "fee" is about money.
Try Other Words
- •Cause: the reason something happens (Use when focusing on what makes something happen)
- •Payment: money given for a service or product (Use when focusing on the money part instead of the explanation)
- •Charge: amount of money asked for a service (Use when talking about money requested)
Unboxing
- •"reason": from Old French "reisun," from Latin "rationem," meaning calculation or explanation
- •"fee": from Old English "feoh," meaning cattle or property, later meaning payment
- •Historically, "reason" has meant explanation for many centuries; "fee" originally meant property or wealth, now means payment for service
- •Today, both words are common in daily language: "reason" for explanations and "fee" for money charges
Reflect & Connect
•How do you decide if you want to know the reason for something or just pay the fee without asking?
•Can a fee ever be a reason for someone to do or not do something? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.She asked for the ___ or fee before agreeing to the service.
2.The ___ for the delay was a traffic jam, and the fee was still charged.
3.Sometimes, the ___ is more important than the ___ when deciding what to do.
4.You must pay the ___ to enter, but you can ask for the ___ if you want to understand the cost.
5.The company explained the ___ or fee clearly so customers would not be confused.
6.If you don’t know the ___ or fee, you might feel unsure about the agreement.
7.Before signing the contract, they wanted to know the ___ or fee involved.