IELTS Speaking Guide: Expressing Cause and Effect

In this lesson, students practice expressing the effects of various causes, and the causes of various effects.

Function:  Expressing Cause and Effect
Key Words:  Because/since/as

Expressing Cause and Effect: Since I wont graduate until June, I hope to find a job in advertising sometime next summer.

Read the following causes and determine what the effects might be.

Finish the sentences according to the prompts given.

1. While in university, I was interested in ___________________________; therefore, I chose to study ______________________________________.

2. During my school years I never really liked ____________________, so I ______________________________________________________________.

3. Since rainy days make me feel ____________________, I often __________________________________________________.

4. As cooking is _____________________ in our culture, we ________________________________________________________.

5. I find visiting museums ___________________, so ______________________________________________________________.

6. Sports to me are ____________________________; therefore, ___________________________________________________.

7. Since my free time is _______________________, I normally ____________________________________________________.

8. Painting is something I ________________________________, with this in mind, ___________________________________.

9. My hometown has ___________________________________, so I would recommend _______________________________.

10. Ive always loved ____________________ music, so ___________________________________________________________.

Read through the prompts again.  What were the questions asked?

1. ________________________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________________________________________

6. ____________________________________________________________________________________

7. _____________________________________________________________________________________

8. _____________________________________________________________________________________

9. _____________________________________________________________________________________

10._____________________________________________________________________________________

Read through the following effects and try to determine the cause.

1. I was soaking wet when I got to work.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

2. I changed my major from math to English.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

3. I have to manage my finances carefully.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

4. Traveling is a big part of my life.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

5. I never take a taxi.

Cause: _____________________________________________________________

6. Eating vegetables with every meal is something I do every day.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

7. I usually go to bed very early.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

8. I have 2 cats and 3 dogs.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

9. We often invite people over for dinner.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

10. We rarely use the air conditioner
Cause: _____________________________________________________________