Chapter 7 part 2 : Cause and Effect

Conjunctions are words that function as a link between clauses or elements in sentences.

Cause and effect conjunctions are used to introduce clauses with the purpose to express the concept of cause and effect.

We can use cause and effect conjunctions to link two sentences and to show their cause and effect relationship:

cause conjunctions (because, due to/owing to, since/as) are used to introduce the reason of a sentence;

effect conjunctions (as a result, so, therefore) are used to show the purpose of a sentence.

We can focus on the cause or on the result by using different conjunctions.

Cause

When we want to focus on the cause, we use conjuctions as because, since, as, due to, owing to

They can be followed by a clause or a gerund/verb in the following way

Clause 1 + because/since/as + clause 2

Clause 1 + due to/owing to + gerund/noun

Effect

When we want to focus on the effect, we use conjuctions as as a result, so, therefore

They are followed by a clause in the following way

Clause 1 + so/therefore/as a result + clause 2  

EXAMPLE 

Cause:

I used full fat milk because I did not have skimmed milk at home.

We couldn’t talk to her since she wasn’t home. 

We can’t go to the cinema as it is too late. 

I sneezed due to the spices in the air.

I missed my train owing to a traffic hold-up. 

Effect:

We had no kiwis so I decided to eat some cherries instead.

He wanted to buy a new house, therefore he started saving up his money.

I couldn’t walk for a year as a result of the accident.

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