B2 Spanish grammar

Spanish Cause and Consequence Connectors for Arguments

Cause and consequence connectors must fit both meaning and grammar. Some introduce noun phrases, others introduce finite clauses, some evaluate the cause positively or negatively, and formal consequences need clear sentence punctuation.

Cause/consequence connector

connector grammar + evaluation + punctuation

Some connectors take noun phrases, others introduce clauses, and sentence connectors link complete propositions.

Cause and consequence connector syntax

FunctionPatternExample
neutral cause phrasedebido a + noundebido a la niebla
asserted cause clausedado que + clauseDado que no había visibilidad…
positive evaluated causegracias a + nounGracias a la vacuna…
negative evaluated causepor culpa de + nounPor culpa de un error…
formal consequencesentence; por consiguiente, sentenceNo se alcanzó el mínimo; por consiguiente, no fue válida.

Do not put a finite clause directly after debido a; use debido a que when a clause follows.

Spanish cause and consequence connectors: Match cause connectors to phrases and clauses

Use debido a or a causa de before a noun phrase, debido a que before a finite clause, and dado que or puesto que before an asserted clause.

El vuelo se canceló debido a la niebla. Dado que no había visibilidad, cerraron el aeropuerto.
The flight was cancelled due to the fog. Given that there was no visibility, they closed the airport.The first connector takes a noun; the second introduces a clause.

Quick check

The event was postponed due to the storm.

Show evaluation through the cause connector

Use gracias a for a beneficial cause, por culpa de when assigning blame or negative responsibility, and por, debido a, or a causa de when a neutral framing is more appropriate.

Gracias a la vacuna, disminuyeron los casos; por culpa de un error, se perdieron algunos datos.
Thanks to the vaccine, cases fell; because of an error, some data were lost.The connectors explicitly evaluate the two causes.

Derive formal consequences with clear punctuation

Use en consecuencia, por consiguiente, or por lo tanto as sentence-level connectors, normally separated by a period, semicolon, or comma pattern that makes the logical boundary visible.

No se alcanzó el mínimo; por consiguiente, la votación no fue válida.
The minimum was not reached; consequently, the vote was invalid.The semicolon separates complete propositions and commas set off the connector.

Common mistakes

Debido la niebla, cancelaron el vuelo.

Debido a la niebla, cancelaron el vuelo.

Debido requires a before its noun complement.

Gracias al accidente, hubo retrasos. (neutral report intended)

A causa del accidente, hubo retrasos.

Gracias a normally frames a cause as beneficial, which clashes with the neutral negative event.

No se alcanzó el mínimo por consiguiente la votación no fue válida.

No se alcanzó el mínimo; por consiguiente, la votación no fue válida.

Formal sentence connectors need punctuation that marks the clause boundary.

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Cause and consequence connectors FAQ

What does cause and consequence connectors cover?

Cause and consequence connectors must fit both meaning and grammar. Some introduce noun phrases, others introduce finite clauses, some evaluate the cause positively or negatively, and formal consequences need clear sentence punctuation.

What is the first rule to remember?

Use debido a or a causa de before a noun phrase, debido a que before a finite clause, and dado que or puesto que before an asserted clause.

What is another important B2 pattern?

Use gracias a for a beneficial cause, por culpa de when assigning blame or negative responsibility, and por, debido a, or a causa de when a neutral framing is more appropriate.

How can I practise Spanish cause and consequence connectors?

Complete the focused round, review each correction, and repeat the lesson when its skills become due again.

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