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I've always known that と may be used as a particle that is required for the
formation of a conditional phrase or to quote someone's speech. So, what is
the function of the last particle in the following sentence?

> なぜと申しますと
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2015-12-31T09:38:29.060
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translation particles particle-と
What does the particle at the end of なぜと申しますと mean?
> 「なぜと[申]{もう}します **と** 」

In this case, 「と」at the end is a _**conjunctive particle**_ that serves as a
_**preface**_ to the statement that follows.

Thus, the only statement that can logically follow 「なぜと[申]{もう}します **と** 」 is
one that explains the reason for whatever is being discussed.

The 「と」 in 「なぜと」, by the way, is _**quotative**_ in case anyone is wondering.
So we have two different kinds of 「と」 used in such a short phrase.

Usually, the entire sentence will look like:

> 「なぜと[申]{もう}しますと、～～～～ **から** です。」 =
>
> "To tell you the reason, it is/was because ~~~~."

(This might sound off-topic, but in real life, saying 「なぜ **か** と申しますと」 is
definitely more common than saying 「なぜと申しますと」. That, however, makes no
difference in the function of 「と」 at the end.)
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2015-12-31T10:42:52.207
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2015-12-31T10:42:52.207
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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I’m not grammarian. So I don’t know how to call the function of ‘と’ on strict
grammatical term. But なぜ（か）と申しますと’can be translated as ‘I say because (it is
...) / The reason why I’m saying so is that …./ If you ask me why, it is
because ….”

“と” here works as a conjunction – correct me if I’m wrong - of “なぜ(か)” and
“申します.” In the same token “と” is used as conjunction following the preceding
sentence or unspoken sentence in such way as “と言うことで、今日はお開きにしましょう, meaning
“So, let’s close today’s (meeting). “と” can be used as well in the frequently
used phrase, particularly toward yearend, “何かと忙しい- Somehow I’m busy” to give
the latitude of nuance in saying “I’m very busy.”
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answer