IELTS Podcast

Pass IELTS with expert help.

IELTS Advanced Speaking: Cause and Effect

In this tutorial, you will learn:

  • the definitions of cause and effect
  • the language phrases needed to talk about cause and effect
  • when and how to use this language in your IELTS speaking exam

IELTS Speaking: Using Cause and Effect Language in your IELTS Speaking Test (part 3).

To express cause and effect in English, we use certain words and phrases.

  • due to
  • because of
  • owing to
  • thanks to
  • as a consequence of
  • as a result of
  • because
  • since
  • as
  • for

To express cause and effect, these words or phrases will either be followed by a noun or a verb.

IELTS Speaking

When we talk about a situation that makes another situation happen, we talk about cause and effect. We use certain expressions such as because, due to, since, and as to talk about causes and effects. In this lesson, you will learn the meanings of cause, effect, and affect. You will also learn how to express cause and effect in English.

Followed by a noun

These cause/effect phrases are followed by a noun or noun phrase.

  • due to
  • because of
  • owing to
  • as a consequence of
  • as a result of
  • thanks to

In the following examples, the noun or noun phrase will be in green. The cause always comes after the cause/effect signal word or phrase.

Signal word/phrase + Cause, + Effect
Effect + Signal word/phrase + Cause

1. Due to Sara’s procrastination, she did not pass the IELTS exam.
Signal phrase: Due to
Cause: Sara’s procrastination
Effect: She did not pass the IELTS exam
Signal word/phrase + Cause, + Effect

2. He failed the test because of his poor preparation strategy.
Signal phrase: Because of
Cause: His poor preparation strategy
Effect: He failed the test
Effect + Signal word/phrase + Cause

3. As a result of the traffic, we canceled the group study session.
Signal phrase: As a result of
Cause: The traffic
Effect: We canceled the group study session
Signal word/phrase + Cause, + Effect

4. Donald could not attend owing to his impeachment.
Signal phrase: Owing to
Cause: Donald’s impeachment
Effect: Donald could not attend
Effect + Signal word/phrase + Cause

5. He was fired as a consequence of lies.
Signal phrase: As a consequence of
Cause: Lies
Effect: He was fired
Effect + Signal word/phrase + Cause

Followed by a verb

These cause/effect signal words are followed by a subject + verb or verb phrase.

  • because
  • since
  • as
  • for

In these examples, the subject + verb or verb phrase is in purple.
The cause comes after the cause/effect signal word or phrase.
Signal word/phrase + Cause, + Effect
Effect + Signal word/phrase + Cause

1. Because Jared was dishonest, he ended up in jail.
Signal word: Because
Cause: Jared was dishonest
Effect: He ended up in jail

2. He lost a lot of money because the court proved he was guilty.
Signal word: Because
Cause: the court proved he was guilty
Effect: He lost a lot of money

3. The student passed her exam since she had improved with honest feedback.
Signal word: Since
Cause: improved with honest feedback
Effect: student passed her exam
These cause/effect signal words are followed by a subject + verb or verb phrase.

In your IELTS exam, learn with caution! Try to learn these structures so they sound natural. The first time you use these you may need to recall the grammar structure (this ok!). But in the exam only use these structure if you can use them without having to recall the grammar structure. Learn them to such a level they become automatic and fluent… how? Repetition is the mother of all learning!

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

|Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud | Transcript |

More helpful IELTS speaking tutorials: