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Exprimer la cause et la conséquence : because, so, that's why

Fiche à imprimer : le cours, les trois exercices et le corrigé (sur une page à part). Revenir au cours en ligne

La cause : pourquoi ?

MotConstructionExemple
because+ sujet + verbeI stayed at home because it was raining.
because of / due to+ nomI stayed at home because of the rain.
as / since+ sujet + verbe (souvent en début de phrase)As it was late, we went home.
thanks to+ nom (cause positive)I passed thanks to your help.

Le piège : because + phrase, mais because of + nom. On ne dit pas because the rain.

La conséquence : donc

MotConstructionExemple
sorelie deux phrasesIt was raining, so I stayed at home.
that's whyc'est pourquoiI was tired. That's why I went to bed early.
thereforedonc (soutenu, à l'écrit)He didn't study. Therefore, he failed.
so + adjectif + thatsi... queIt was so cold that the lake froze.
such + nom + thatun(e) tel(le)... queIt was such a good film that I saw it twice.

Mise en situation : un retard à l'école

Teacher : Why are you late, Hugo?
Pourquoi es-tu en retard, Hugo ?
Hugo : Because my bus didn't come. There was a strike, so I had to walk.
Parce que mon bus n'est pas venu. Il y avait une grève, donc j'ai dû venir à pied.
Teacher : I see. Lots of pupils are late because of the strike.
Je vois. Beaucoup d'élèves sont en retard à cause de la grève.
Hugo : It was so far that I ran all the way! That's why I'm tired.
C'était tellement loin que j'ai couru tout le trajet ! C'est pour ça que je suis fatigué.

À retenir

  • Cause : because + phrase ; because of + nom ; as / since + phrase.
  • Conséquence : so, that's why, therefore.
  • so + adjectif + that ; such (a) + nom + that.

Exercice 1 : La cause et la conséquence : exercice 1 (QCM)

  1. I stayed at home ___ it was raining.
    1. because of
    2. because
    3. so
  2. I stayed at home ___ the rain.
    1. because
    2. so
    3. because of
  3. It was raining, ___ I stayed at home.
    1. because of
    2. so
    3. because
  4. I was tired. ___ I went to bed early.
    1. Because
    2. Because of
    3. That's why
  5. It was ___ cold that the lake froze.
    1. so
    2. such
    3. because
  6. It was ___ a good film that I saw it twice.
    1. so
    2. such
    3. very
  7. I passed my exam ___ your help.
    1. because
    2. thanks to
    3. so
  8. ___ it was late, we went home.
    1. As
    2. So
    3. Because of
  9. The match was cancelled ___ the storm.
    1. because
    2. due to
    3. so that
  10. « Je suis en retard à cause du bus. »
    1. I'm late because of the bus.
    2. I'm late because the bus.
    3. I'm late so the bus.

Exercice 2 : La cause et la conséquence : exercice 2 (à compléter)

  1. I can't come .......................... I'm ill. (parce que)
  2. The flight was delayed because .......................... the fog. (à cause de)
  3. I was hungry, .......................... I made a sandwich. (donc)
  4. She missed the bus. That's .......................... she was late. (c'est pourquoi)
  5. The film was .......................... boring that I fell asleep. (si)
  6. It was .......................... a nice day that we went to the beach. (une si)
  7. I won .......................... to you! (grâce à)
  8. .......................... it was raining, we stayed inside. (comme)
  9. The road is closed due .......................... an accident. (en raison de)
  10. He didn't revise. .......................... , he failed. (par conséquent)

Exercice 3 : La cause et la conséquence : mise en situation

  1. Le professeur demande pourquoi tu es en retard : ton bus n'est pas venu.
    1. Because my bus didn't come.
    2. So my bus didn't come.
    3. Because of my bus didn't come.
  2. Tu expliques que le match est annulé à cause de la pluie.
    1. The match is cancelled because the rain.
    2. The match is cancelled because of the rain.
    3. The match is cancelled so the rain.
  3. Tu avais faim, donc tu as mangé une pomme.
    1. I was hungry, because of I ate an apple.
    2. I was hungry, so I ate an apple.
    3. I was hungry, because I ate an apple.
  4. Tu as réussi grâce à ton professeur.
    1. I passed so my teacher.
    2. I passed thanks to my teacher.
    3. I passed because my teacher.
  5. Il faisait tellement chaud que vous êtes allés nager.
    1. It was so hot what we went swimming.
    2. It was such hot that we went swimming.
    3. It was so hot that we went swimming.
  6. C'était un si bon concert que tu veux y retourner.
    1. It was such a good concert that I want to go again.
    2. It was such good a concert that I want to go again.
    3. It was so a good concert that I want to go again.
  7. Tu expliques pourquoi tu es fatigué : tu as mal dormi.
    1. I'm tired because of I didn't sleep well.
    2. I'm tired because I didn't sleep well.
    3. I'm tired so I didn't sleep well.
  8. Ton ami a raté le train. C'est pour ça qu'il est en retard.
    1. He missed the train. Because he's late.
    2. He missed the train. That's why he's late.
    3. He missed the train. Because of he's late.
  9. Comme il est tard, tu proposes de rentrer.
    1. So it's late, let's go home.
    2. As it's late, let's go home.
    3. Because of it's late, let's go home.
  10. Dans une rédaction, tu écris « Par conséquent, ... ».
    1. Because of, ...
    2. Because, ...
    3. Therefore, ...

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. b) because · 2. c) because of · 3. b) so · 4. c) That's why · 5. a) so · 6. b) such · 7. b) thanks to · 8. a) As · 9. b) due to · 10. a) I'm late because of the bus.

Exercice 2

1. because · 2. of · 3. so · 4. why · 5. so · 6. such · 7. thanks · 8. As · 9. to · 10. Therefore

Exercice 3

1. a) Because my bus didn't come. · 2. b) The match is cancelled because of the rain. · 3. b) I was hungry, so I ate an apple. · 4. b) I passed thanks to my teacher. · 5. c) It was so hot that we went swimming. · 6. a) It was such a good concert that I want to go again. · 7. b) I'm tired because I didn't sleep well. · 8. b) He missed the train. That's why he's late. · 9. b) As it's late, let's go home. · 10. c) Therefore, ...