Reasons for choices and causes of events

The idea

A reason often explains a choice; a cause produces an event or effect. Reason can also explain why an event happened.

Examples

• Mira’s reason for leaving early was to catch the last train.
• A broken pipe was the cause of the flood in the kitchen.
• Their reason for studying at night is the quiet.
• The cause of the power cut was a fallen tree.
• Our reason for choosing this café was its outdoor seating.
• The doctor is looking for the cause of the rash.

Watch out

Do not assume cause is the usual word for a person’s purpose in making a choice.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the best word. Her ___ for taking the bus was to save money. (reason / cause)

   Show answer or example answer

   reason

   reason: Saving money is her purpose in choosing the bus.

2. Choose the best word. The investigators found the ___ of the fire: faulty wiring. (reason / cause)

   Show answer or example answer

   cause

   cause: The wiring produced the fire.

3. Choose the best word. His ___ for joining the club was to meet new people. (reason / cause)

   Show answer or example answer

   reason

   reason: Meeting people explains his choice to join.

Use it today

Explain one choice you made and one event that happened.