REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA

MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA LA DEFENSA

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL EXPERIMENTAL DE LA FUERZA ARMADA (UNEFA)
NÚCLEO SAN TOMÉ
CÁTEDRA DE INGLÉS II

CAUSE & EFFECT CONJUNCTIONS

Sometimes, assigned topics on the written portion of the TOEFL ask you
to explain the reasons or causes of something. Other topics will ask you
to discuss the results or effects of some cause. Here is an example of a
writing topic asking for causes of a particular phenomenon (Note: this
is not an actual TOEFL topic, but it is similar to one that may appear on a
specific administration of the TOEFL):
In recent decades, cities have grown so large
that now about 50% of the Earth's population
lives in urban areas. Explain the causes of this
phenomenon.
Be sure to give specific details and reasons in
your explanation.

Cause/effect paragraphs generally follow basic paragraph format. That is,

they begin with a topic sentence and this sentence is followed
by specific supporting details. For example, if the topic sentence
introduces an effect, the supporting sentences all describe causes. Here
is an example:

In recent decades, cities have grown so large that

now about 50% of the Earth's population lives in urban
areas. There are several reasons for this occurrence.
First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth
century resulted in the creation of many factory jobs,
which tended to be located in cities. These jobs, with
their promise of a better material life, attracted many
people from rural areas. Second, there were many
schools established to educate the children of the new
factory laborers. The promise of a better education
persuaded many families to leave farming communities
and move to the cities. Finally, as the cities grew,

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 people established places of leisure, entertainment,
and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and
museums. For many people, these facilities made city
life appear more interesting than life on the farm, and
therefore drew them away from rural communities.

Notice how each supporting sentence is a cause that explains the effect
mentioned in the topic sentence. In the chart below are the main ideas of
the above paragraph, to help you understand the relationships better:

EFFECT CAUSES
(Topic Sentence) (Supporting Sentences)

Cities have grown very

large.
Factory jobs attracted people.
[There are several
reasons for this.]

Better schools attracted

(Cities have grown very
families to move
large.)
to the city.

Places of leisure,
(Cities have grown very entertainment, and culture
large.) made city life appear more
interesting.

Notice also how the topic sentence is followed by the "focusing" or

"prediction" sentence, There are several reasons for this. Such sentences
help the reader anticipate the organization of the paragraph or essay.

Cause and Effect Conjunctions

Here are some common conjunctions that can be used to express cause and effect:

since as a result because of + noun phrase

because therefore due to + noun phrase

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 consequently for this reason so

There are two things you must be careful of when using these
conjunctions. First, you must order the cause and the effect correctly. For
example, in the sentence

Sally closed the window because the weather outside was cold.

The CAUSE is the fact that the room was cold, and the EFFECT is Sally's
closing the window. The conjunction because is placed in the correct
position here, which is right before the cause. Similarly, in the sentence

Because the weather outside was cold, Sally closed the window.

The conjunction because is correctly placed before the part of the

sentence that expresses the cause, even though the subordinate
clause because the room was cold is now at the beginning of the
sentence. (Note that the first letter of the conjunction is now capitalized.)
However, in this sentence:

The weather outside was cold because Sally closed the window.

Even though it is grammatically correct, it does not make sense because a

person's opening or closing a window does not influence the weather.

Second, you should be careful when using commas. Conjunctions such

as therefore, consequently, as a result, and for this reason are usually
followed by a comma, as in these examples:

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 The weather was cold; therefore, Sally closed the window.

The weather was cold. Therefore, Sally put on her coat.

The weather was cold. Consequently, Sally put on her scarf.

A blizzard hit the town. As a result, the schools were closed.

The adverbial clause conjunctions since and because are exceptions.

These are attached directly at the beginning of CAUSE-sentence without
a comma, as in the example above, Because the weather outside was
cold, Sally closed the window. The comma here is placed at the end of the
subordinate clause.

The coordinating conjunction so is also different from the ones above. This
conjunction has a comma before it, as in this sentence:

The weather was warm, so Jim turned on the air conditioner.

However, in formal academic writing, so may not be used at the beginning

of a sentence (although you will often see it in informal writing):

The weather was warm. So Jim turned on the air conditioner.

(too informal -- avoid this usage)

Review of Cause and Effect Linking Words

Before you go on to work on the grammar and writing exercises in this unit, read
through this brief review of linking words and phrases for cause and effect.

There are three main types of linking words: conjunctions, transitions,

and prepositions:

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Conjunctions
The most important conjunctions are because, as, since, and so. Because, as,
and since introduce a cause; so introduces an effect. These are used to join two
complete sentences (or independent clauses) together. They are often used like this:

First sentence conjunction second sentence.

I stayed at home because it was raining.

It was raining, so I stayed at home. (use a comma before so)

You can also reverse the order of the sentences with because, as, and since:

Because it was raining, I stayed at home.

Note that this is not possible with so.

Transitions
The most important conjunctions are therefore, consequently, and as a result.
All of these introduce an effect. These are used to join two complete sentences (or
independent clauses) together. They are often used like this:

First sentence; transition, second sentence.

First sentence. Transition, second sentence.

It was raining; therefore, I stayed at home.

It was raining. Consequently, I stayed at home.

Prepositions
The most important prepositions are due to and because of. Both of these
introduce a cause in the form of a noun phrase. They are often used like this:

Sentence due to noun phrase.

Because of noun phrase, sentence.

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 I stayed at home due to the rain.
Because of the rain, I stayed at home.

Using Cause & Effect Transitions: Exercise #1a

Combine the pair of sentences below into ONE sentence, using appropriate cause
or effect transitions from the list at the bottom.

due to - because - therefore - consequently - so - since

because of - but

1. - Janice got home late. She missed her TV program.

2. - Alvin missed the bus. He woke up late.

3. My brother does not sleep very well. The neighborhood is noisy.

Read the paragraphs below. And write correctly the cause/effect

conjunctions.

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 1)
There are several possible reasons why my father is in excellent health,
even though he is over eighty years of age. For one thing, he is in excellent
condition __________ he has stopped smoking cigarettes. He quit smoking
cigarettes __________whenever he climbed stairs he would invariably stop
several times and cough loudly. His good health is also __________ his cutting
down on the wrong kinds of foods. For example, whereas before he would eat
fatty red meat and deep-fried dishes several times a week, nowadays he
seldom does so. He has more energy __________ He is also in good
physical shape__________ his devotion to exercise. He swims three times a
week at the local gym, and on sunny days he prefers to walk home rather than
take the bus. __________, my father is in better shape than some of his
children are!

2)
The invention of the rocket has sometimes had negative effects on human society.
For example, these devices have been used in warfare. __________ People have
sometimes been killed en masse. Rocket technology has improved with time;
__________ rocket engines have come to possess greater range. Conceivably,
deadly "warheads" can __________ be sent to reach targets far away from the
launch site. Recently, _______________the development of nuclear power, a
rocket with a nuclear warhead can be the __________ the deaths of millions of
people in a few moments. Tens of millions more can possibly die __________the
spread of radioactive fallout from a single explosion.

3) On the other hand, the invention of the rocket has also had amazing benefits for
human life. For instance, weather satellites carried into space by rockets can warn
people about bad weather. Many lives threatened by storm can __________ be
saved. As another example, rockets can carry robot probes into space. People can
explore not only the Earth but also other planets in the solar system __________
such capability. Moreover, __________ people can learn more about their
collective place in the Universe. Finally, rockets can carry communications
satellites into orbit. Millions of people from all over the world are __________ able
to talk to one another, engage in business, join in scientific research, and do
countless other useful activities together. In short, __________ the rocket and
communications satellites, the world has almost become one country.

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This is a multiple-choice exercise on using conjunctions and
transitions to express cause and effect.

1. Many species of wildlife are becoming extinct __________ the

rainforests are being destroyed.
a) therefore
b) since
c) so
d) consequently

2. __________ logging provides jobs and profits, the government

is reluctant to control it.
a) So
b) Consequently
c) Due to
d) Since

3. Hemp can be used to make paper, __________ it could reduce

the need for logging.
a) therefore
b) so
c) due to
d) because

4. Hemp was grown throughout history __________ its versatility;

it can be used to make many different things.
a) due to
b) because
c) since
d) as a result

5. Hemp is related to the marijuana plant; __________, it is illegal

in many countries.
a) so
b) because
c) due to
d) as a result

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6. Hemp cannot be used to produce marijuana __________ its low
THC content.
a) because
b) as
c) because of
d) consequently

7. Marijuana is less toxic than alcohol or tobacco. __________,

some people believe it should be legalized.
a) So
b) Therefore
c) Due to
d) Because

8. __________ Canada has legalized hemp farming, we can expect

to see pulp and paper produced from hemp very soon.
a) Therefore
b) Due to
c) So
d) As

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