Cause and result

Practise expressing cause and result using lead to, due to and result in.

1. Expressing causes and results.

Look at these sentences from a blog about doping in sport.

Another year comes to an end – another year that will be remembered more for its villains than for its heroes. Once again, drugs scandals made some of the year's biggest sporting headlines. We're used to seeing athletes, cyclists and swimmers disqualified and disgraced, undoubtedly due to the greater number of tests carried out in their sports, but a never-ending list of other sports also came under suspicion this year.

You might say, "Does it really matter? Since everyone's taking some form of banned substance, the best man or woman still wins." I think it does. Taking performance-enhancing drugs results in serious health problems and leads to a greatly-reduced life expectancy. And the side effects are worse for young people, whose bodies are still growing. Because of the drugs problem in some sports, I'd persuade my child to take up another hobby if he showed promise as a cyclist, for example. The only solution is to create a DNA database for all sports, and to make athletes take drugs tests all year round. That way, the cheats would have no hiding place.

  • Taking performance-enhancing drugs results in serious health problems and leads to a greatly-reduced life expectancy.
  • Smoking and drinking cause long-term health problems, too.
  • The problem of doping is caused by the pressure on athletes to win.

Lead to, result in, cause and be caused by are all used to talk about the cause or result of an action or situation.

  • A leads to B.
  • A results in B.
  • A causes B.
  • B is caused by A.

Type in the missing words to complete the sentences.

2. Giving reasons.

Cause and result

Because, because of, since and due to are used to give the reason for an action or situation.

  • He was disqualified because he failed a drugs test.
  • Because he failed a drugs test, he was disqualified.

Because and since are followed by a subject + verb.

  • He was disqualified because / since he failed a drugs test.

Because of and due to are followed by a noun or -ing form.

  • He was disqualified because of / due to a failed drugs test.
  • He was disqualified because of / due to failing a drugs test.

Choose the correct option to complete these sentences.

3. Giving reasons.

Decide if the sentences are correct or incorrect.

4. Writing.

Rewrite these sentences to make new sentences that are similar in meaning. Use the word(s) in bold.

For example:

Her injury was caused by an accident.
(due to)
Her injury was due to an accident.

 

For more information about cause and result see the Grammar Reference.