Motive example sentences

Related (12): motivation, reason, intention, purpose, drive, incentive, cause, objective, goal, impulse, ulterior, suspect

"Motive" Example Sentences

  1. The detective couldn't figure out the motive for the crime until she found the old love letters.
  2. His motive was purely financial — he didn't care about helping anyone.
  3. I questioned her motive when she suddenly offered to pay for everything.
  4. What's your motive here? Because this seems too good to be true.
  5. The motive behind the company's donation was clearly just tax write-offs.
  6. She had no motive to lie, which is why I believed her story immediately.
  7. Motive, means, and opportunity — that's what the detective kept repeating.
  8. I don't trust him, and I can't even explain why — something about his motive feels off.
  9. The motive for the protest was obvious: people were tired of being ignored.
  10. He claimed his motive was innocent, but the evidence suggested otherwise.
  11. Understanding someone's motive helps you predict what they'll do next.
  12. Her motive for leaving wasn't about the job — it was about her family.
  13. The motive seemed clear enough at first, but then things got complicated.
  14. Nobody could question his motive because he'd been transparent from the start.
  15. Motive is everything in a murder investigation.
  16. I finally understood her motive when she told me about her childhood.
  17. What was the motive for canceling the event? The email didn't explain anything.
  18. His motive for asking me out was probably just loneliness, but I went anyway.
  19. The motive behind the policy change was buried in a footnote nobody read.
  20. She acted without motive — just pure impulse and regret later.
  21. The motive for the breakup was never really discussed, just assumed.
  22. I've learned not to assume someone's motive without asking first.
  23. Their motive for moving was a combination of work and wanting a fresh start.
  24. The motive seemed suspicious, so I decided to investigate further.
  25. He questioned my motive for bringing it up at all.
  26. The motive for the crime was revenge, plain and simple.
  27. I don't need to know your motive — just tell me if you're in or out.
  28. The motive for staying in a bad relationship is usually fear.
  29. Her motive for volunteering was genuine, not performative like some people.
  30. What's the motive for all these questions? Are you writing a book about me?

Common Phrases

  1. motive for
  2. motive behind
  3. question someone's motive
  4. hidden motive
  5. ulterior motive
  6. motive and opportunity
  7. pure motive
  8. suspect motive
  9. understand the motive
  10. motive unclear
  11. without motive
  12. motive in question

Examples by Level

A1
  1. The motive for the crime was money.
  2. She had no motive to hurt him.
A2
  1. What was his motive for leaving the company so suddenly?
  2. The motive behind the decision wasn't clear to anyone at first.
B1
  1. I couldn't understand her motive until she explained her past.
  2. There's always a motive — you just have to look hard enough to find it.
B2
  1. The motive seemed innocent enough, but the execution suggested something darker.
  2. He questioned my motive, which made me realize I hadn't been entirely honest with myself.
C1
  1. What distinguishes a motive from mere impulse is the element of premeditation and conscious intent.
  2. The motive, once obscured by layers of rationalization, finally emerged as simple jealousy.
C2
  1. There's a particular kind of tragedy in discovering that someone's motive was never what you believed it to be.
  2. The motive for his silence wasn't cowardice, but a complicated loyalty that he could never quite articulate.

Examples by Scenario

🏠 Everyday Life
  1. My neighbor's motive for asking so many questions about my new car was probably just curiosity.
  2. I still don't know the motive behind why she stopped texting me — we just drifted apart.
💼 Workplace
  1. His motive for volunteering for the project was clearly to impress the boss.
  2. The team questioned the manager's motive when she suddenly approved everyone's time off.
📊 Business
  1. The company's motive for the rebrand was to capture a younger demographic.
  2. Understanding the client's motive for the acquisition helped us structure the deal better.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
  1. I'm suspicious of the store's motive for this massive discount — there must be a catch.
  2. The motive for the price increase wasn't explained anywhere on the website.
✈️ Travel
  1. His motive for choosing that hotel was the reviews, not the location.
  2. The motive for the sudden itinerary change was that he wanted to avoid crowds.
📚 Education
  1. The teacher questioned the student's motive for the late assignment submission.
  2. Understanding each child's motive for acting out helps the counselor help them better.
❤️ Relationships
  1. I finally asked him about his motive for proposing so suddenly, and his answer made me cry.
  2. Her motive for staying with him was complicated — love mixed with obligation and fear.
📰 News / Politics
  1. Critics questioned the politician's motive for the sudden policy reversal.
  2. The motive behind the media campaign was to shift public opinion before the election.
💻 Technology
  1. The motive for the app's new privacy policy was probably just legal liability.
  2. Tech companies' motive for collecting data is always profit, no matter what they claim.
📝 Formal Writing
  1. The study examined the motive for consumer behavior across different demographic groups.
  2. The motive for the regulatory change was outlined in the official government statement.

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