Cause & effect statements

Printable paper with separate answer pages Step-by-step lessons

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

because因为yīn wèi … and / but而ér … (because …, thereby …)

Famous for one dish

A travel article explains why a small town became well known.
this这个zhè gesmall town小镇xiǎo zhènbecause因为yīn wèitogether一道yī dàovegetable菜cài而出名ér chū míng。 – "This small town became famous because of one dish."

because因为yīn wèi / cause因yīn A and / but而ér B = B because of A

because因为yīn wèi A and / but而ér B links a cause A to a result B within one clause, in formal style.
The result after and / but而ér is usually a verb or adjective: cause因yīn…而出名ér chū míng, cause因yīn…and / but而érto change改变gǎi biàn, cause因yīn…and / but而érto move (sb)感动gǎn dòng.

he他tābecause of因为yīn wèiillness生病shēng bìng(and so)而érwas absent缺席quē xí。

Feelings and changes

很多hěn duōperson人rénbecause因为yīn wèi这部zhè bùmovie电影diàn yǐngand / but而érto love爱ài(bound form) up上shàng(completed / change)了leChina中国zhōng guó。 – "Many people fell in love with China because of this film."
meeting会议huì yìcause因yīnweather天气tiān qìand / but而érto postpone推迟tuī chí。 – "The meeting was postponed because of the weather."

the meeting会议huì yìbecause of因yīnthe weather天气tiān qì(and so)而érwas postponed推迟tuī chí。

One clause, no so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ

Do not add so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ: because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔand / but而érto cancel取消qǔ xiāo, not because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔand / but而érso / therefore所以suǒ yǐto cancel取消qǔ xiāo.
and / but而ér links directly to the result verb; nothing else comes between.

Versus because因为yīn wèi…so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ…

because因为yīn wèi…，so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ… uses two clauses (everyday).
because因为yīn wèi…and / but而ér… packs cause and result into one tight clause (formal).

because因为yīn wèiit rained下雨xià yǔ，so所以suǒ yǐthe match比赛bǐ sàiwas cancelled取消qǔ xiāo了le。

Recap

cause因yīn(for为wèi) A and / but而ér B = B because of A, in one formal clause.
No so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ; everyday speech uses because因为yīn wèi…so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ….

Practise this pattern step by step.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

because因为yīn wèi … and / but而ér … (because …, thereby …)

1101.1 Complete (written): “He was absent because of illness.” he / him他tābecause因为yīn wèito fall ill生病shēng bìng…………to be absent缺席quē xí。

1101.2 Which is correct?

A. meeting会议huì yìand / but而ércause因yīnweather天气tiān qìto postpone推迟tuī chí。
B. meeting会议huì yìcause因yīnweather天气tiān qìand / but而érto postpone推迟tuī chí。
C. cause因yīnweather天气tiān qìmeeting会议huì yìto postpone推迟tuī chíand / but而ér。
D. meeting会议huì yìcause因yīnweather天气tiān qìand / but而érso / therefore所以suǒ yǐto postpone推迟tuī chí。

1101.3 Build: “Many people fell in love with China because of this film.”

Arrange all chunks: 很多hěn duōperson人rén / and / but而ér / because因为yīn wèi这部zhè bùmovie电影diàn yǐng / to fall in love with爱上ài shàng(completed / change)了leChina中国zhōng guó。

1101.4 because因为yīn wèi…and / but而ér… is more formal than because因为yīn wèi…so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ….

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

1101.5 A travel article explains why a small town became well known. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A learner says because因为yīn wèi……and / but而ér…… makes every causal claim true. What does the frame actually supply?

R2. Use it yourself. Describe a decision caused by a stated lack of preparation, then say what would need checking in a real report.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.

Open the answers after your attempt

Answers and explanations

Check after your attempt. For open tasks, compare the message and the stated criteria, then revise one detail.

because因为yīn wèi … and / but而ér … (because …, thereby …)

1101.1 and / but而ér

because因为yīn wèi A and / but而ér B.

1101.2 B. meeting会议huì yìcause因yīnweather天气tiān qìand / but而érto postpone推迟tuī chí。

cause因yīn + cause + and / but而ér + result, no so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ.

1101.3 很多hěn duōperson人rénbecause因为yīn wèi这部zhè bùmovie电影diàn yǐngand / but而érto love爱ài(bound form) up上shàng(completed / change)了leChina中国zhōng guó。

Subject + because因为yīn wèi A + and / but而ér + B.

1101.4 True.

It packs cause and result into one clause.

1101.5 One possible response: this这个zhè gesmall town小镇xiǎo zhènbecause因为yīn wèitogether一道yī dàovegetable菜cài而出名ér chū míng。

Check meaning and form:

My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
Do not add so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ: because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔand / but而érto cancel取消qǔ xiāo, not because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔand / but而érso / therefore所以suǒ yǐto cancel取消qǔ xiāo.
and / but而ér links directly to the result verb; nothing else comes between.
I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.

Fresh-situation answers

R1. It grammatically presents a cause and result, but the truth of the claimed cause still needs evidence. Fluency cannot validate the relationship.

R2. One possible response. to exercise活动huó dòngbecause因为yīn wèipreparation准备zhǔn bèiinsufficient不足bù zúand / but而érto delay延期yán qī。A real report would need evidence of inadequate preparation and the decision to postpone, rather than relying on the connector to prove causation.