Expressing Cause and Effect

Learn how to express cause and effect relationships

Video Lesson

Tip: Cause and effect are used to explain why something happens (cause) and what happens as a result (effect). These expressions are commonly used in both spoken and written English. Using appropriate cause and effect expressions makes your writing more coherent and persuasive!

Expressing Cause:

To express cause, you can use the following words and phrases:

  • Because: The protesters were arrested because they broke many cars.
  • Since: He can't run fast since he is overweight.
  • As: The protesters were arrested as they broke many cars.
  • For: He can't run fast for he is overweight.
  • Owing to: Owing to her intelligence, she became successful.
  • Thanks to: Thanks to her intelligence, she became successful.
  • Due to: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the city was locked down.
  • Because of: Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the city was locked down.

Expressing Effect:

To express effect, you can use the following words and phrases:

  • Therefore: Covid-19 is dangerous. Therefore, schools were closed.
  • So: Covid-19 is dangerous. So, schools were closed.
  • As a result: Covid-19 is dangerous. As a result, schools were closed.
  • That's why: Covid-19 is dangerous. That's why schools were closed.
  • Consequently: Covid-19 is dangerous. Consequently, schools were closed.
  • Thus: Covid-19 is dangerous. Thus, schools were closed.
  • Hence: Covid-19 is dangerous. Hence, schools were closed.

Instruction: Complete the sentences with the correct verb form.

Use: due to - so - since - thanks to

1. The workers decided to go on strike their boss cut off their wages.

2. He can't read and write. he wants to take literacy classes.

3. poverty, many young people drop out of school.

4. She's a manager in a multi-national company her long years of experience.

5. She woke up late. she missed the bus.