B2 LINKERS OF REASON AND PURPOSE

BECAUSE – AS – SINCE

Clause Linker clause

We stayed at home Because it was raining.
As
Since

There is no difference in meaning between them but:

- BECAUSE emphasizes a reason more strongly

I’ll do it because I want to, not because I have to.

- AS / SINCE assume that the reason is obvious

As/ since everyone’s here, we can begin.

When we answer with a clause of reason alone, we can only use because:
“Why are you late?” “Because I missed the bus”

BECAUSE OF – OWING TO….

Clause Linker Noun phrase/ noun

We stayed at home Because of (informal)
Owing to (formal) it was raining.
Due to the rain.
On account of
As a result of
Thanks to

DUE TO often (not always) comes after the verb BE

- The crash was due to bad weather

OWING TO: we cannot use it after BE.

- The accident was owing to human errors
- The accident was due to human errors

ON ACCOUNT OF : often means “because of a problem or difficulty”

- He can’t run very fast on account of his asthma

AS A RESULT OF: often means “because something that has already happened”
- As a result of the pilot’s strike, all flights have been cancelled.

THANKS TO: usually explains why something good happened

- Thanks to Ron and his car, we managed to get all the deliveries done on time.
IN ORDER TO – SO AS TO

Clause Linker Verb + complements

We stayed at home To Avoid the coronavirus
In order to (more emphatic) Avoid getting infected
So as to (more emphatic)

We can use the negative forms

- They set off early in order not to miss their flight

- They set off early so as not to miss their flight
But
- They set off early not to miss their flight

IN ORDER THAT – SO (THAT) ….

Clause Linker Clause with modal verb

We stayed at home So We cannot get infected
So that We are safer
In order that

CONSEQUENTLY – AS A RESULT…..

To express the result of an action mentioned earlier. We can use it at the beginning of a clause or
in the middle.

- She couldn’t eat meat, so/ consequently/ as a result she just had vegetables.
- Consequently/ as a result / because of that, we stayed at home.

SO - SINCE

Since it is his birthday on Monday, he’s having a party

It’s his birthday on Monday, so he is having a party.

HAPPY WRITING!