Grammar - Connecting Words to express cause, effect and contrast

 

Connecting Words to Express Cause, Effect, and Contrast with Phrasal Verbs, Idioms, and Common Phrases.



Connecting words, also known as linking words or conjunctions, are essential tools in English that help us express relationships between ideas, such as cause, effect, and contrast. When combined with phrasal verbs, idioms, and common phrases, they enrich our communication, making it more engaging and dynamic.

  Using these expressions correctly is crucial because it allows us to convey our thoughts clearly, add nuance, and connect ideas in a way that feels natural and fluent.

 Whether you are writing an essay or engaging in everyday conversation, mastering these words and phrases will help you communicate more effectively and confidently in English.

 

 

 Expressing Cause
 

1. Because of - debido a 

2. Due to - debido a 

3. Owing to - debido a 

4. Thanks to - gracias a 

5. As a result of - como resultado de 

6. On account of - a causa de 

7. By virtue of - en virtud de 

8. Now that - ahora que 

9. In view of - en vista de 

10. Brought about by - causado por 

 

 Phrasal Verbs for Cause

 

1. Lead to - llevar a 

2. Bring about - provocar 

3. Result from - resultar de 

4. Stem from - derivar de 

5. Come from - provenir de 

6. Give rise to - dar lugar a 

 

 Idioms and Common Phrases for Cause

 

1. The root cause of - la causa raíz de 

2. The driving force behind - la fuerza impulsora detrás de 

3. A direct consequence of - una consecuencia directa de 

4. Spark off - desencadenar 

5. Trigger off - detonar 

 

 Expressing Effect

 

1. As a result - como resultado 

2. Consequently - por lo tanto 

3. Therefore - por consiguiente 

4. Thus - así 

5. Hence - de ahí 

6. For this reason - por esta razón 

7. So that - de modo que 

8. In consequence - en consecuencia 

9. As a consequence - como consecuencia 

 

 Phrasal Verbs for Effect

 

1. End up - terminar 

2. Turn out - resultar 

3. Wind up - acabar 

4. Pan out - resultar bien 

5. Work out - funcionar 

6. Bring about - provocar 

 
 Idioms and Common Phrases for Effect

 

1. Come to fruition - llegar a buen término 

2. Come full circle - cerrar el círculo 

3. Pay off - dar sus frutos 

4. Make waves - causar sensación 

5. Bear fruit - dar fruto 

 

 Expressing Contrast

 

1. However - sin embargo 

2. Nevertheless - no obstante 

3. Nonetheless - sin embargo 

4. On the other hand - por otro lado 

5. Whereas - mientras que 

6. Even though - aunque 

7. Despite - a pesar de 

8. In spite of - a pesar de 

9. Conversely - inversamente 

10. Yet - sin embargo 

 
 Phrasal Verbs for Contrast

 

1. Set apart - distinguir 

2. Stand out - destacar 

3. Go against - ir en contra de 

4. Differ from - diferir de 

5. Run counter to - contradecir 


 Idioms and Common Phrases for Contrast

 

1. On the flip side - en el lado opuesto 

2. By the same token - de la misma manera 

3. A far cry from - muy diferente de 

4. In contrast - en contraste 

5. At odds with - en desacuerdo con 


Exercise: Choose the correct connecting word or phrase to complete each sentence. Share your answers in the comments section.

1. She studied hard for her exams; ____, she passed with flying colors. 

   a) however 

   b) as a result 

   c) in contrast 

 

2. The weather was terrible; ____, they decided to cancel the outdoor event. 

   a) nevertheless 

   b) therefore 

   c) despite 

 

3. I love traveling; ____, I rarely have time for long vacations. 

   a) as a result 

   b) in addition 

   c) however 

 

4. He was tired; ____, he continued working late into the night. 

   a) consequently 

   b) despite this 

   c) as a result 

 

5. She couldn’t attend the meeting ____ a family emergency. 

   a) because 

   b) due to 

   c) therefore 

 

Reading Practice

"The Unexpected Journey"

 

Sophy had always dreamed of traveling to Italy; however, her busy job as a doctor left her with little time for vacations. Despite this, she continued to save money, hoping one day an opportunity would come. One day, her friend Laura called with some surprising news: she had won two tickets to Rome in a contest! As a result, Sophy's dream was about to come true.

They packed their bags and headed to the airport, excited for their adventure. However, things didn’t go as planned. Their flight was delayed by several hours due to a storm. Nevertheless, Sophy and Laura decided to make the best of it, chatting and planning their trip in detail. When they finally arrived in Rome, they were exhausted; yet, the sight of the beautiful city filled them with energy.

They spent their days exploring ancient ruins, tasting delicious food, and getting lost in charming streets. Sophy felt truly alive for the first time in years. In contrast, Laura, who had traveled often, found herself slowing down and savoring the experience more than she ever had before. The journey changed both of them in unexpected ways.

By the end of the trip, Sophy realized that her job was important, but she needed to make more time for herself. Therefore, she decided to cut back on her work hours and plan more adventures. She knew that life was too short to wait for the perfect moment; sometimes, you just have to make it happen.

 And so, Sophy returned home with a new sense of purpose, excited for the next chapter of her life.

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