PREPARATION

A2 • Lesson 11

Cause and Effect

Vocabulary and reading to prepare for your lesson

Target Vocabulary

Click each word to see its meaning and an example.

Key Words

cause noun

The reason why something happens.

"The cause of the accident was ice."

effect noun

The result or consequence of something.

"The effect was that he got hurt."

as a result phrase

Therefore; for this reason.

"He was sick. As a result, he missed work."

if...then structure

Show condition and result.

"If it rains, then I stay home."

therefore adverb

For that reason; as a result.

"She worked hard. Therefore, she passed."

because of this phrase

For this reason; as a result.

"It was hot. Because of this, I left early."

led to verb phrase

Caused; resulted in.

"His mistake led to big problems."

Speaking Chunks

Because of that, I... phrase

Show result of a previous statement.

"It was rainy. Because of that, I stayed home."

As a result, he... phrase

Start a sentence showing consequence.

"He was sick. As a result, he slept all day."

This led to... phrase

Show cause and effect clearly.

"He was late. This led to him missing the bus."

Therefore, she... phrase

Formal way to show results.

"She worked hard. Therefore, she got the job."

If that happens, then... phrase

Show condition and consequence.

"If it rains, then I'll stay inside."

So the effect is... phrase

Clearly state the result.

"He broke his leg. So the effect is he can't walk."

Reading: Talking About Causes and Effects

A cause is why something happens. An effect is what happens as a result. When you talk about cause and effect, you explain how one thing leads to another.

You use words like "because," "so," and "as a result" to show cause and effect. You can say "Because it was rainy, I stayed home." You can say "The cause was ice. The effect was an accident."

You can use "if...then" to show conditions and results. You say "If it rains, then I stay inside." You show what happens if something else happens first.

In stories and explanations, you often show cause and effect. You say "He was tired, so he fell asleep." You explain why things happen. You show the results of actions.

Understanding cause and effect helps you communicate clearly. You can explain situations and how they connect. Practice using these words in your daily conversations.

~230 words • A2 Level

Discussion Questions

Think about these questions before your lesson.

Keyword Speaking Practice

For each question above, write maximum 3 keywords — no sentences. Then practise speaking your answer out loud from just the keywords.

Q1: "If you are tired, what is the effect?"

Your 3 keywords: / /

Now say your answer out loud. Speak for about 30 seconds from just your keywords.

Q2: "What causes you to be happy?"

Your 3 keywords: / /

Speak for 30 seconds. Let your brain build the sentences from the keywords.

Q3: "Give an example of cause and effect from your life."

Your 3 keywords: / /

Say your answer out loud — don't just think it! Your keywords are enough.

Remember: keywords only. Your brain does the rest. Mistakes are good — they mean you're practising speaking, not reading.

Start Lesson 11 →

Preparation time: ~15 minutes