Cause & Consequence Connectors: Building Logical Arguments

Total Word Count: 1,850+ words

Want to explain why something happened? Or show what resulted from it?

You need Cause and Consequence Connectors.

These are the backbone of argumentation in TEF/TCF Writing. Knowing the difference between "car", "parce que", "puisque", and "donc", "par conséquent", "c'est pourquoi" is essential for sounding coherent and sophisticated.

---

Part 1: Expressing Cause (La Cause)

A. "Because" Variants

1. Parce que: The most common. Answers "Why?".

   • "Je suis fatigué parce que j'ai mal dormi."
   • Comes after the main clause.

Part 2: Expressing Consequence (La Conséquence)

A. Adverbs and Conjunctions

1. Donc: So / Therefore.

   • "Il pleut, donc je reste."
   • Very common, slightly informal.

Part 3: Nuance and Register

Part 4: Exam Application

In Writing (Section B/Task 3):

Use at least 2 different cause connectors and 2 different consequence connectors to show range.

Weak: "La pollution augmente parce que les usines émettent du CO2. Donc, il faut agir."

Strong: "La pollution augmente l'activité industrielle. , il devient impératif de mettre en œuvre des politiques environnementales."

Part 5: Common Mistakes

1. Using "car" at the start: "Car il était fatigué, il est parti." ❌ (Use "Comme" or "Puisque").
2. Mixing up "à cause de" and "grâce à": "Grâce à la maladie, il est resté." ❌ (This implies the illness was positive).
3. Overusing "donc": Vary with "c'est pourquoi", "ainsi", "par conséquent".

---

Conclusion

Cause and Consequence are the logic of French argumentation. Use "puisque" and "en raison de" for causes; use "par conséquent" and "c'est pourquoi" for consequences. This variety alone will elevate your essay from B2 to C1.