原因（cause）解释事情为什么发生，结果（consequence）说明随后发生了什么。你可以在口语中用 because、so、as a result 或 that is why 把它们连起来。任何带有 “why” 或 “what happened” 的口语题目，都会邀请你这样做。
这节课紧接构建个人例子，那里的结果一步需要好的连接。它也为比较过去、现在和将来做准备，因为那一课同样需要清楚的连接。
连接词怎么运作？
每个连接词都指向一个方向。知道方向，就不会把意思说反。
| 连接词 | 指向 | 例子 |
|---|---|---|
| because | 原因在它后面 | I stayed in because it was raining. |
| so | 结果在它后面 | It was raining, so I stayed in. |
| as a result | 结果在它后面 | It was raining. As a result, I stayed in. |
| that is why | 结果在它后面 | It was raining. That is why I stayed in. |
| since | 原因（较口语） | Since it was raining, I stayed in. |
同一个意思可以从两个方向说。选你希望听者先听到的那种顺序。
怎样把原因串成较长的回答？
每个结果都可以成为下一个原因，这样就形成一条口头的因果链。短回答里有两到三个环节就够了。
想想多米诺骨牌。每一块倒下，是因为前一块倒了。缺了一块，链条就断。
完整例题
Prompt: Why do you think many students are tired at school?
第 1 步，说出第一个原因： “Many students sleep late because they use their phones at night.”
第 2 步，把结果变成下一个原因： “So they wake up tired. As a result, they find it hard to concentrate in the first lesson.”
第 3 步，加上最后的结果： “That is why some of them fall behind in morning subjects.”
完整回答：
“Many students sleep late because they use their phones at night. So they wake up tired. As a result, they find it hard to concentrate in the first lesson. That is why some of them fall behind in morning subjects.”
这条链有三个环节。每个新句子都从上一句的结果开始，所以听者不用猜想法之间如何衔接。
要留意的错误
英语口语中常见的错误，是用两个连接词表达同一个关系。
错误的回答： “Because I was nervous, so I forgot my words.”
because 和 so 在做同一份工作。听者仍然听得懂，但听起来不够有把握。改正的方法是选一个：“I was nervous, so I forgot my words” 或 “I forgot my words because I was nervous.”
第二个错误是连接没有真正的关系，例如 “I like football, so I have a dog”。说 so 之前，先问自己第二部分是否真的由第一部分而来。
自我检测
先大声说出答案，再打开参考答案。
1. 改正这个句子：“Although it was late, but I finished my homework.”
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这是同样的重复连接词问题，只是用了表示转折的连接词。只用一个：“Although it was late, I finished my homework” 或 “It was late, but I finished my homework.”
2. 用你选的连接词连接这两个想法：“I practised every day.” “My speaking improved.”
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“I practised every day, so my speaking improved.” 另一种：“My speaking improved because I practised every day.” 两种都对。
3. 为 “Why do some people avoid speaking in class?” 构建一条三个环节的因果链。
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一种可能：“They are afraid of making mistakes, so they stay quiet. As a result, they get less practice. That is why their confidence grows slowly.” 只要每个环节都由前一个而来，其他链条也可以。
接下来学什么
学会把原因连到结果之后，就试试比较过去、现在和将来的经历，然后在口语组织练习中检验这项技能。私人口语录音与回听工具可以帮你听出连接词是否自然。
有些学生在纸上用对了词，开口时却犹豫着不敢连接想法。这正是我们的老师在一对一线上 English as a Second Language 补习中会留意的模式。