it is that/reason

[FW]

Is "it is that" used correctly in the following examples? (It is supposed to show the reason for something):



1-"Why didn't he help us?"
-"It was that he was very tired."


2-If I don't take you there, it is that my car has broken down.



3-"He will help you if you ask him."
-"It is that I don't like him and I don't want his help."

 

[Tdol]

It's very strained- it would be far more natural to use a conjunction like 'because', 'as' or 'since'. I can't say it's wrong, and the usage does exist, but it really doesn't work in your examples, IMO. ;-)

 

[RonBee]

Is "it is that" used correctly in the following examples? (It is supposed to show the reason for something):

The first one is, I think, the closest to being idiomatic English.

1-"Why didn't he help us?"
-"It was that he was very tired."

More likely:

• A: Why didn't he help us?
  B: He was very tired.

Or:

• A: Why didn't he help us?
  B: Because he was very tired.

2-If I don't take you there, it is that my car has broken down.

More likely:

• If I don't take you there, it's because my car has broken down.

3-"He will help you if you ask him."
-"It is that I don't like him and I don't want his help."

More likely:

• A: He will help you if you ask him.
  B: " I don't like him, and I don't want his help.