Two directions, one connection
You can state a connection from two sides. With the reason (cause) you name the result first and then why (pourquoi ?). With the consequence (conséquence) you name the cause first and then what follows from it (et alors ?).
Giving the reason: parce que, car, puisque, comme
All four take the indicative. They differ in whether the reason is new or already known, and in position and register.
parce que, car, puisque, comme
| Conjunction | Nuance | Position |
|---|---|---|
| parce que | new reason, the standard answer to pourquoi | usually after the main clause |
| car | more formal, mostly written (like old-fashioned for) | between two clauses, never at the start of a sentence |
| puisque | the reason is already known to both (like since meaning given that) | before or after the main clause |
| comme | puts the reason first and stresses it (like as) | usually at the start of the sentence |
Introducing a reason
The four in use
«Pourquoi tu pars ? Parce que j'ai un train.»
"Why are you leaving?" "Because I've got a train."
Elle n'est pas venue, car elle était malade.
She didn't come, for she was ill.
Puisque tu es là, aide-moi.
Since you're here, help me.
Comme il pleuvait, nous avons pris un taxi.
As it was raining, we took a taxi.
Reason with a noun: à cause de and grâce à
When the reason is a noun (not a whole clause), you need a preposition. Whether the result is pleasant decides which one. A more formal, neutral option is en raison de (en raison des travaux, because of the roadworks).
grâce à or à cause de?
grâce à: thanks to
The result is pleasant.
Grâce à tes conseils, j'ai réussi.
Thanks to your advice, I succeeded.
Nous sommes arrivés à temps grâce au métro.
Thanks to the metro, we arrived on time.
à cause de: because of
The result is unpleasant or neutral.
Le match est annulé à cause de la pluie.
The match is cancelled because of the rain.
Je suis en retard à cause du trafic.
I'm late because of the traffic.
Expressing the consequence
The connectors of consequence differ mainly in register, from du coup (colloquial) to par conséquent (formal).
Connectors of consequence
| Connector | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| du coup | so, and so | colloquial |
| alors | so, then | spoken, in storytelling |
| donc | so, therefore | fits everywhere, the safe choice |
| c'est pourquoi | that is why | more elevated, rather written |
| par conséquent | consequently | formal |
| si bien que | so that, with the result that | introduces a clause, rather written |
from colloquial to formal
Stating consequences
Le magasin est fermé, donc nous reviendrons demain.
The shop is closed, so we'll come back tomorrow.
Il n'y avait plus de places, alors on est rentrés.
There were no seats left, so we went home.
J'ai raté le bus, du coup je suis arrivé en retard.
I missed the bus, so I arrived late.
Les prix ont augmenté ; c'est pourquoi nous changeons de fournisseur.
Prices have gone up; that is why we are changing supplier.
Il a oublié son passeport, si bien qu'il a raté l'avion.
He forgot his passport, with the result that he missed the flight.
Intensified consequence: si … que, tellement … que
To say that something is so strong that something follows, you need a two-part bracket. Which opener you pick depends on what is being intensified, just as English chooses between so and so much.
Choosing the right bracket
| Intensified word | Construction |
|---|---|
| Adjective or adverb | si … que (also tellement … que) |
| Verb | tellement … que (not si) |
| Noun | tellement de … que |
what is intensified → which construction
Intensified consequence in a sentence
Le film était si long que je me suis endormi.
The film was so long that I fell asleep.
Elle a tellement travaillé qu'elle est épuisée.
She has worked so much that she is exhausted.
Il y avait tellement de bruit qu'on ne s'entendait pas.
There was so much noise that we couldn't hear each other.
