Linking Sentences for Cause, Reason & Result

The same types of linking techniques apply in the case of a message expressing cause, reason and result, as follows:

Coordination

i) We can have two sentences in coordination, in order to express a sequence of events. These sentences are equal in value. For example, if you enter a room and utter either of the sentences to an audience, they will understand both sentences equally.

[He lost his job, due to the recession] and [(therefore) he had to look for another job.]

In this particular case, one would understand the second one independently only in the absence of the linking adverb 'therefore' which is optional in any case.

Subordination

ii) We can have the case of two sentences in subordination, in which case one of them depends on the other one in order to make sense.

[The two boys had a walkie-talkie], [so (that) they could speak to each other from their own bedrooms, after bedtime.]

The test for subordination is this: If you came into a room and uttered the second  sentence of the two above, nobody would understand the complete meaning of the situation, until they listened to the second sentence.

Adverbial link

iii) A third situation for expressing a causal connection between two sentences is the adverbial link:

[In China, the bride and groom usually have two weddings: one for the extended family and friends on the bride’s side and one for those relatives and friends on the groom’s side.] [They therefore have double the fun, as well as the headache for organising two big parties, instead of one.]

I remember going to a few weddings in China, so I’ll take this opportunity to wish my friends a long and happy life together yet again, should they happen to read this lesson.

Next time we shall look at linking sentences for expressing conditions: some positive conditions, some negative and some with a contrast – wait and see.

Your turn to test your knowledge

Please think what type of linking you can recognise between the sentences in the following examples and send me your choices by submitting the following form. Do not worry - your reply will not be published online. I receive it personally and I shall send you my comments directly by email.

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1. [I wanted to surprise my friend with a great home-made Easter cake], [so I followed a traditional recipe to the letter.]
Coordination Subordination Adverbial link
[The two boys were enemies at the time of the graduation], [so they competed eagerly to get the first prize that year.]
Coordination Subordination Adverbial link
. [With all the apathy he could display, Johnny turned down Lorna’s offer to help in the situation.] [She therefore used her time watching a movie instead of helping her boyfriend clean the house as planned.]
Coordination Subordination Adverbial link
[The old lady didn’t swipe her travelling card on boarding the bus], [and (so) I wasn’t surprised when she was fined £500 before she arrived at her destination.]
Coordination Subordination Adverbial link
[Once diagnosed of Alzheimer’s disease, my grandfather had a habit of talking to himself while mending little things in the house], [so (that) he wouldn’t forget what he needed to do next.]
Coordination Subordination Adverbial link
[The 5 travellers wanted to visit the museum round the corner before heading off to their next destination]. [Their hostess therefore had to leave her son behind for a couple of hours, to help translate for the visitors, about some technical details she could hardly understand in the first place…]
Coordination Subordination Adverbial link