Cause and Effect: Therefore, So, Consequently, As a Result
B2 Level
English Exercises is teacher-led by Charlie. About the teacher · How content is made
So is the most common and most informal — it is perfect for everyday speech and casual writing: "I was hungry, so I made a sandwich." Therefore is formal and appears in academic writing, reports, and professional communication: "The data was insufficient. Therefore, further research is needed." Consequently and as a result are also formal and emphasise that one event directly caused another: "The factory closed. Consequently, hundreds of workers lost their jobs." Learning to use a range of result connectors — from informal "so" to formal "consequently" — improves your writing for Cambridge B2 First and IELTS examinations.
Quick Rule
Cause sentence. Therefore, / Consequently, / As a result, + result sentence | cause, so + result
- 1.The bridge was damaged in the storm. Therefore, it was closed to traffic. (formal result)
- 2.She practised every day, so her English improved quickly. (informal result)
- 3.Costs increased sharply. Consequently, the company had to reduce staff. (formal emphasis on direct cause)
- 4.He didn't follow the instructions. As a result, the machine broke down. (clear cause-effect chain)
- 5.The train was cancelled. We therefore had to take a bus instead. (therefore in mid-position)
All 20 questions
Combine the two sentences using the linking word given in brackets. The linking word should introduce the RESULT.
It was raining heavily. We decided to stay home. (so)
It was raining heavily,
The evidence was insufficient. The case was dismissed. (Therefore)
The evidence was insufficient.
She worked extremely hard. She got promoted. (so)
She worked extremely hard,
The company lost money for three years. They had to lay off staff. (Consequently)
The company lost money for three years.
I forgot my password. I couldn't log in. (so)
I forgot my password,
The experiment was a success. We can proceed to the next phase. (Therefore)
The experiment was a success.
He didn't study. He failed the exam. (so)
He didn't study,
The roads were icy. All schools were closed. (As a result)
The roads were icy.
She speaks fluent Mandarin. She got the job in Beijing. (so)
She speaks fluent Mandarin,
The patient didn't respond to treatment. We tried a different approach. (Consequently)
The patient didn't respond to treatment.
The meeting ran late. I missed my train. (so)
The meeting ran late,
Sales increased by 30%. Bonuses will be distributed. (Therefore)
Sales increased by 30%.
I was hungry. I made a sandwich. (so)
I was hungry,
The research showed promising results. Funding was approved. (As a result)
The research showed promising results.
The battery was dead. I couldn't make any calls. (so)
The battery was dead,
Population growth has slowed. Fewer schools are needed. (Consequently)
Population growth has slowed.
She was the only candidate. She got the position. (so)
She was the only candidate,
The data was inconclusive. Further testing is required. (Therefore)
The data was inconclusive.
It was getting dark. We headed home. (so)
It was getting dark,
The project was completed under budget. The team received recognition. (As a result)
The project was completed under budget.
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