PREPOSITIONS: CAUSE AND EFFECT

by Patricia Galienhttp://pjgalien.wordpress.com/

Prepositions are always followed by a noun. This noun could be: a noun a gerund an object pronoun

The following compound prepositions are used for cause and effect: due to because of as a result of

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The shuttle launch was delayed due to the weather.

Due toLike all prepositions, due to is always followed by a noun (or a gerund or object pronoun). The cause always follows due to.

causeeffect

preposition + noun

to

due

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We cancelled the picnic because of bad weather.

Because of

The street flooded because of the heavy rain.

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Because of is always followed by a noun. The cause always follows because of.

preposition + noun

preposition + noun

because

of

several reasons.

Note: Because of You cannot write because of with a plural object.

He was late because of several reasons.

Do not use a plural noun with because of.

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There are many good reasons for collecting rainwater.

Reasons forReasons are usually intentional, planned or they can be controlled. Use the preposition for plus some form of a noun. In this case it is a gerund.

preposition + gerund

Saving water is one reason for collecting rainwater.

One reason for the fire was a lack of rain.

preposition + noun

reasons

for

As far as I can tell, causes of and causes for are interchangeable.

Causes of / for

It is important to study the causes of hearing loss.

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There are many possible causes for depression.

Result of (noun) Result in (verb)

One result of not getting enough sleep is a lack of concentration.

preposition + gerund

preposition + noun

The word result is sometimes a verb and sometimes a noun. When it is a noun, use the preposition of. When it is a verb, use the preposition in.

Not getting enough sleep results in a lack of concentration.

noun

verb

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Result of (noun) Result in (verb)

One result of carbon dioxide pollution is global warming.

preposition + noun

preposition + noun

The word result is sometimes a verb and sometimes a noun. When it is a noun, use the preposition of. When it is a verb, use the preposition in.

Carbon dioxide pollution results in global warming.

noun

verb

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Consequence of

The consequences of drunk driving can be deadly.

preposition + gerund

The word result is sometimes a verb and sometimes a noun. When it is a noun, use the preposition of. When it is a verb, use the preposition in.

The first consequence of cheating is that you will fail the assignment.

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of

Effect of / Effect on

Cancer is one effect of smoking.

Effect a noun, but sometimes it is followed by of and sometimes on. When the cause is first, use effect on. When the effect is first, use effect of.

Smoking has a negative effect on health.

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Effect + effect of + Cause

Cause + effect on + Effect