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English Connectives: Cause & Effect, Contrast, Purpose & Condition
Les Connecteurs logiques en anglais : Cause, Contraste, But et Condition
A complete bilingual lesson covering all connectives from Chapter 19 — with grammar rules, examples, a summary table, and a free 20-question practice quiz.
1. Cause & Effect Connectives
1. Les connecteurs de cause et d'effet
because · because of · due to · since · now that · therefore · consequently · so
Adverb Clause Words — followed by subject + verb
because / since / now that introduce an adverb clause (subject + verb). They answer the question "Why?"
📌 A comma is used when the adverb clause comes first.
📌 A comma is used when the adverb clause comes first.
Because + S + V , S + V .orS + V + because + S + V .
| English |
|---|
| Because it was cold, we stayed home. |
| Since the elevator was broken, we walked up. |
| Now that she has graduated, she is looking for a job. |
Prepositional Phrases — followed by a noun / noun phrase
because of / due to are phrasal prepositions — followed by a noun, NOT by subject + verb.
📌 due to the fact that is followed by a subject + verb (more formal).
📌 due to the fact that is followed by a subject + verb (more formal).
| English |
|---|
| We stayed home because of the cold weather. |
| The game was canceled due to heavy rain. |
| The train was delayed due to the fact that there was a signal failure. |
⚠️ Erreur fréquente : ❌ Because of she was tired → ✅ Because she was tired ou Because of her tiredness
Transitions & Conjunctions — expressing result
therefore / consequently are transitions meaning "as a result." A period ends the first sentence. They are movable in the second sentence.
so is a conjunction — connects two clauses with a comma.
so is a conjunction — connects two clauses with a comma.
| Pattern | English |
|---|---|
S+V. Therefore, S+V. | It rained. Therefore, we stayed home. |
S+V, so S+V. | It rained, so we stayed home. |
S+V. S, consequently, V. | The store was closed. I, consequently, went elsewhere. |
2. So … That / Such … That
2. Si … que / Tellement … que / Tel … que
Expressing cause and degree of result
so…that = so + adjective or adverb + that
such…that = such + (a/an) + adjective + noun + that
📌 Use so with adjectives/adverbs alone. Use such when a noun follows. that can be omitted in speech.
such…that = such + (a/an) + adjective + noun + that
📌 Use so with adjectives/adverbs alone. Use such when a noun follows. that can be omitted in speech.
| Structure | English |
|---|---|
so + adj + that | The test was so easy that everyone passed. |
such a + adj + noun | It was such a hot day that we canceled tennis. |
such + adj + noun | It was such nice weather that we went to the zoo. |
so + adv + that | She speaks so fast that I can't understand her. |
so many + noun + that | She made so many mistakes that she failed. |
so little + noun + that | He had so little time that he skipped lunch. |
3. Expressing Purpose
3. Exprimer le but
in order to · so that
in order to + base verb = expresses purpose ("For what reason?")
so that + subject + modal (can/could/will/would/won't) = also expresses purpose but includes a subject.
📌 can/will = present/future · could/would = past
so that + subject + modal (can/could/will/would/won't) = also expresses purpose but includes a subject.
📌 can/will = present/future · could/would = past
| Structure | English |
|---|---|
in order to + verb | She woke up early in order to catch the first train. |
so that + can | I'll cash a check so that I can buy my textbooks. |
so that + could | She turned down the TV so that her roommate could sleep. |
so that + won't | I'll take my umbrella so that I won't get wet. |
4. Contrast – Unexpected Result
4. Contraste – Résultat inattendu
although · even though · though · nevertheless · nonetheless · however · despite · in spite of
Adverb Clause Words
These three are interchangeable — "despite the fact that." The result is surprising or unexpected.
| English |
|---|
| Even though it was cold, I went swimming. |
| Although she didn't study much, she passed. |
| He ate the food even though he didn't like it. |
Transitions
Come at the beginning of the second sentence. Separated by a period, followed by a comma.
| English |
|---|
| It was cold. Nevertheless, I went swimming. |
| The hotel was expensive. However, the service was excellent. |
Prepositions — followed by a noun or gerund
despite / in spite of → noun or gerund only. Add "the fact that" for a full clause.
| English |
|---|
| I went swimming despite the cold. ✅ |
| He failed despite practicing for months. ✅ |
| I swam despite the fact that it was cold. ✅ |
⚠️ Erreur fréquente : ❌ Despite she was tired → ✅ Despite being tired ou Despite the fact that she was tired
5. Direct Contrast
5. Contraste direct
while · whereas · but · however · on the other hand
These connectives show direct contrast — "this is the opposite of that." Not about unexpected results, but about two things simply being different or opposite.
| English |
|---|
| Mary is rich, while John is poor. |
| Extroverts like to talk, whereas introverts prefer to listen. |
| Florida is warm; however, Alaska is cold. |
| Tom is outgoing. His sister, on the other hand, is shy. |
6. Expressing Condition
6. Exprimer la condition
unless · only if · even if · whether or not · otherwise · or else
unless = if not · only if = the only circumstance · even if = regardless of condition · whether or not = true in both situations
| Connective | English |
|---|---|
| unless | You can't enter unless you have an invitation. |
| only if | I'll lend you money only if you pay me back. |
| even if | She'll attend the event even if it rains. |
| whether or not | She will come whether or not the weather is good. |
otherwise / or else = "if not / sinon" — used as a warning or consequence after the main statement.
| English |
|---|
| I always eat breakfast. Otherwise, I get hungry during class. |
| Hurry up, or else we'll miss the train. |
| Save your work, otherwise you'll lose it. |
7. Summary – All Connectives at a Glance
7. Résumé – Tous les connecteurs logiques anglais
| Function | Type | Connectives | Followed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause & Effect | Adverb clause | because, since, now that | subject + verb |
| Preposition | because of, due to | noun / noun phrase | |
| Transition / Conjunction | therefore, consequently, so | new sentence / clause | |
| Degree + Result | Clause structure | so…that, such…that | adj / noun + that |
| Purpose | Infinitive / Clause | in order to, so that | base verb / subject + modal |
| Unexpected Contrast | Adverb clause | although, even though, though | subject + verb |
| Transition | nevertheless, nonetheless, however | new sentence | |
| Preposition | despite, in spite of | noun / gerund | |
| Direct Contrast | Clause / Transition | while, whereas, however, on the other hand | subject + verb / new sentence |
| Condition | Clause / Transition | unless, only if, even if, whether or not, otherwise, or else | subject + verb / new sentence |
🧠 Ready to Test Yourself?
You've studied all the connectives. Now put your knowledge to the test! The quiz below gives you 20 random questions drawn from a bank of 120 sentences. No right or wrong shown until the end — then get your full correction and download your results as a PDF.
Take the Quiz ↓🧠 English Connectives Quiz
20 random questions · choose the correct connective · full correction revealed at the end · downloadable PDF
Want to go further with your English?
PrepMyEnglish offers professional English courses in Lyon and online at all levels — A1 to C2. All our programmes are CPF eligible, meaning you can fund your training through your personal learning account at no cost to you.
PrepMyEnglish
English Connectives: Cause & Effect, Contrast, Purpose & Condition
Les Connecteurs logiques en anglais : Cause, Contraste, But et Condition
A complete bilingual lesson covering all connectives from Chapter 19 — with grammar rules, examples, a summary table, and a free 20-question practice quiz.
1. Cause & Effect Connectives
1. Les connecteurs de cause et d'effet
because · because of · due to · since · now that · therefore · consequently · so
Adverb Clause Words — followed by subject + verb
because / since / now that introduce an adverb clause (subject + verb). They answer the question "Why?"
📌 A comma is used when the adverb clause comes first.
📌 A comma is used when the adverb clause comes first.
Because + S + V , S + V .orS + V + because + S + V .
| English |
|---|
| Because it was cold, we stayed home. |
| Since the elevator was broken, we walked up. |
| Now that she has graduated, she is looking for a job. |
Prepositional Phrases — followed by a noun / noun phrase
because of / due to are phrasal prepositions — followed by a noun, NOT by subject + verb.
📌 due to the fact that is followed by a subject + verb (more formal).
📌 due to the fact that is followed by a subject + verb (more formal).
| English |
|---|
| We stayed home because of the cold weather. |
| The game was canceled due to heavy rain. |
| The train was delayed due to the fact that there was a signal failure. |
⚠️ Erreur fréquente : ❌ Because of she was tired → ✅ Because she was tired ou Because of her tiredness
Transitions & Conjunctions — expressing result
therefore / consequently are transitions meaning "as a result." A period ends the first sentence. They are movable in the second sentence.
so is a conjunction — connects two clauses with a comma.
so is a conjunction — connects two clauses with a comma.
| Pattern | English |
|---|---|
S+V. Therefore, S+V. | It rained. Therefore, we stayed home. |
S+V, so S+V. | It rained, so we stayed home. |
S+V. S, consequently, V. | The store was closed. I, consequently, went elsewhere. |
2. So … That / Such … That
2. Si … que / Tellement … que / Tel … que
Expressing cause and degree of result
so…that = so + adjective or adverb + that
such…that = such + (a/an) + adjective + noun + that
📌 Use so with adjectives/adverbs alone. Use such when a noun follows. that can be omitted in speech.
such…that = such + (a/an) + adjective + noun + that
📌 Use so with adjectives/adverbs alone. Use such when a noun follows. that can be omitted in speech.
| Structure | English |
|---|---|
so + adj + that | The test was so easy that everyone passed. |
such a + adj + noun | It was such a hot day that we canceled tennis. |
such + adj + noun | It was such nice weather that we went to the zoo. |
so + adv + that | She speaks so fast that I can't understand her. |
so many + noun + that | She made so many mistakes that she failed. |
so little + noun + that | He had so little time that he skipped lunch. |
3. Expressing Purpose
3. Exprimer le but
in order to · so that
in order to + base verb = expresses purpose ("For what reason?")
so that + subject + modal (can/could/will/would/won't) = also expresses purpose but includes a subject.
📌 can/will = present/future · could/would = past
so that + subject + modal (can/could/will/would/won't) = also expresses purpose but includes a subject.
📌 can/will = present/future · could/would = past
| Structure | English |
|---|---|
in order to + verb | She woke up early in order to catch the first train. |
so that + can | I'll cash a check so that I can buy my textbooks. |
so that + could | She turned down the TV so that her roommate could sleep. |
so that + won't | I'll take my umbrella so that I won't get wet. |
4. Contrast – Unexpected Result
4. Contraste – Résultat inattendu
although · even though · though · nevertheless · nonetheless · however · despite · in spite of
Adverb Clause Words
These three are interchangeable — "despite the fact that." The result is surprising or unexpected.
| English |
|---|
| Even though it was cold, I went swimming. |
| Although she didn't study much, she passed. |
| He ate the food even though he didn't like it. |
Transitions
Come at the beginning of the second sentence. Separated by a period, followed by a comma.
| English |
|---|
| It was cold. Nevertheless, I went swimming. |
| The hotel was expensive. However, the service was excellent. |
Prepositions — followed by a noun or gerund
despite / in spite of → noun or gerund only. Add "the fact that" for a full clause.
| English |
|---|
| I went swimming despite the cold. ✅ |
| He failed despite practicing for months. ✅ |
| I swam despite the fact that it was cold. ✅ |
⚠️ Erreur fréquente : ❌ Despite she was tired → ✅ Despite being tired ou Despite the fact that she was tired
5. Direct Contrast
5. Contraste direct
while · whereas · but · however · on the other hand
These connectives show direct contrast — "this is the opposite of that." Not about unexpected results, but about two things simply being different or opposite.
| English |
|---|
| Mary is rich, while John is poor. |
| Extroverts like to talk, whereas introverts prefer to listen. |
| Florida is warm; however, Alaska is cold. |
| Tom is outgoing. His sister, on the other hand, is shy. |
6. Expressing Condition
6. Exprimer la condition
unless · only if · even if · whether or not · otherwise · or else
unless = if not · only if = the only circumstance · even if = regardless of condition · whether or not = true in both situations
| Connective | English |
|---|---|
| unless | You can't enter unless you have an invitation. |
| only if | I'll lend you money only if you pay me back. |
| even if | She'll attend the event even if it rains. |
| whether or not | She will come whether or not the weather is good. |
otherwise / or else = "if not / sinon" — used as a warning or consequence after the main statement.
| English |
|---|
| I always eat breakfast. Otherwise, I get hungry during class. |
| Hurry up, or else we'll miss the train. |
| Save your work, otherwise you'll lose it. |
7. Summary – All Connectives at a Glance
7. Résumé – Tous les connecteurs logiques anglais
| Function | Type | Connectives | Followed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause & Effect | Adverb clause | because, since, now that | subject + verb |
| Preposition | because of, due to | noun / noun phrase | |
| Transition / Conjunction | therefore, consequently, so | new sentence / clause | |
| Degree + Result | Clause structure | so…that, such…that | adj / noun + that |
| Purpose | Infinitive / Clause | in order to, so that | base verb / subject + modal |
| Unexpected Contrast | Adverb clause | although, even though, though | subject + verb |
| Transition | nevertheless, nonetheless, however | new sentence | |
| Preposition | despite, in spite of | noun / gerund | |
| Direct Contrast | Clause / Transition | while, whereas, however, on the other hand | subject + verb / new sentence |
| Condition | Clause / Transition | unless, only if, even if, whether or not, otherwise, or else | subject + verb / new sentence |
🧠 Ready to Test Yourself?
You've studied all the connectives. Now put your knowledge to the test! The quiz below gives you 20 random questions drawn from a bank of 120 sentences. No right or wrong shown until the end — then get your full correction and download your results as a PDF.
Take the Quiz ↓🧠 English Connectives Quiz
20 random questions · choose the correct connective · full correction at the end · downloadable PDF
Want to go further with your English?
PrepMyEnglish offers professional English courses in Lyon and online at all levels — A1 to C2. All our programmes are CPF eligible, meaning you can fund your training through your personal learning account at no cost to you.