Expressing Cause and Effect
Objectives
Key Points➧ Cause and effect explain why something happens (cause) and what happens as a result (effect).
Today, we’ll cover key conjunctions and phrases used for cause and effect and practice constructing sentences and paragraphs that clearly show these relationships.
Conjunctions & Phrases
➧ because
➧ due to
➧ as a result
➧ therefore
➧ since
➧ consequently
Understanding how to link ideas through cause and effect is crucial in both writing and speaking, especially when explaining reasons and consequences.
Examples
Because
➧ I was late because the bus broke down.
Due to
➧ The meeting was canceled due to the CEO's absence.
As a result
➧ The project was delayed as a result of insufficient resources.
Therefore
➧ The weather was bad; therefore, the flight was postponed.
Since
➧ Since it was raining, we stayed indoors.
Consequently
➧ The company lost its major client; consequently, profits dropped significantly.