CAUSE AND EFFECT

 CAUSE AND EFFECT

Cause

(noun) a person or thing that makes something happen

• The cause of the accident was a flat tire.
• 


(verb) an action that makes something happen




• The flat tire caused the car to wreck.
• Effect
(noun) a change that is a result of an action or cause


• The snowstorm had an effect on his mood

Dialog

Affect

When effect is used as a verb, it is usually spelled with an a = affect.


(verb) to produce an effect; to cause a change in something.

• The snowstorm affected his mood.
  
  

Talking about causes and effects in English

To express cause and effect in English, we us certain words and phrases.

• due to
  
  
• because of
  
  
• owing to
  
  
• thanks to
  
  
• as a consequence of
  
  
• as a result of
  
  
• because
  
  
• since
  
  
• as
  
  
• for

To express cause and effect, these words or phrases will either be followed by a nounor a verb. 

Followed by a noun

These cause/effect phrases are followed by a noun or noun phrase.

• due to
  
  
• because of
  
  
• owing to
  
  
• as a consequence of
  
  
• as a result of
  
  
• thanks to 

In the following examples, the noun or noun phrase will be underlined.

The cause always comes after the cause/effect signal word or phrase.

Signal word/phrase + Cause, +Effect

Effect + Signal word/phrase+ Cause

Examples:

1. Due to John's laziness, he did not pass the English test.

• Signal phrase: Due to
  
  
• Cause: John's laziness
  
  
• Effect: He did not pass the test

2. He failed the test because of his bad study habits.

• Signal phrase: Because of
  
  
  
• Cause: His bad study habits
  

• Effect: He failed the test

3. As a result of the rain, we canceled the picnic.

• Signal phrase: As a result of
  
  
• Cause: The rain
  
  
• Effect: We canceled the picnic

4. David could not attend owing to his illness.

• Signal phrase: Owing to
  
  
• Cause: David's illness
  
  
• Effect: David could not attend

5. He was fired as a consequence oftardiness (being late).

• Signal phrase: As a consequence of
  
  
• Cause: Tardiness
  
  
• Effect: He was fired

Followed by a verb

These cause/effect signal words are followed by a subject + verb or verb phrase.

• because
  
  
• since
  
  
• as
  
  
• for

 
In these examples, the subject + verb or verb phrase is underlined. 
The cause comes after the cause/effect signal word or phrase.

Signal word/phrase + Cause, +Effect
Effect + Signal word/phrase+ Cause

Examples:

1.  Because John was lazy, he did not pass the English test.

• Signal word: Because
  
  
• Cause: John was lazy
  
  
• Effect: He did not pass the test

2. He failed the test because he did not study well.

• Signal word: Because
  
  
• Cause: He did not study well
  
  
• Effect: He failed the test

3. The picnic was canceled since the rain was coming.

• Signal word: Since
  
  
• Cause: The rain was coming
  
  
• Effect: The picnic was canceled

4. David could not attend for he was ill.

• Signal word: For
  
  
• Cause: David was ill
  
  
• Effect: David could not attend

5. As he arrived late to work, he will be fired.

• Signal word: As
  
  
• Cause: He arrived
  
  
• Effect: He will be fired