Because, so, although

What's in the lesson

1. 1Warm-up
2. 2In this lesson
3. 3Reading: Adela in TorontoReading comprehension
4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
5. 5Find because, so and althoughGrammar exercise
6. 6How because, so and although workGrammar rule
7. 7Two halvesGrammar exercise
8. 8Which word joins them?Grammar exercise
9. 9A weekend in the snowGrammar exercise
10. 10Join the ideasGrammar exercise
11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
12. 12A guide for a newcomerSpeaking practice
13. 13About youGrammar exercise
14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

1. 1Homework: a new jobGrammar exercise
2. 2Homework: which is right?Grammar exercise
3. 3Homework: join the ideasGrammar exercise
4. 4Homework: a new startDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

1. What do you like about your city? What don't you like?
2. What do you do when you are lonely or bored?
3. Are you on a sports team or in a club? Why, or why not?

Grammar rule

How because, so and although work

Word	What comes after it	Example
because	the reason (it answers Why?)	I added some water because the soup was too salty. Because the soup was too salty, I added some water.
so	the result	The soup was too salty, so I added some water.
although	something surprising (a contrast)	Although the soup was salty, I ate it all. I ate it all, although it was salty.

Commas: put a comma before so. When because or although starts the sentence, put a comma after the first idea. In the middle, because has no comma before it, and although usually has one.

The same two ideas, two ways:

• …, so + result = result + because + reason
• …, but + surprise = Although …, + surprise

Use one linking word for two ideas, not two linking words: not Although the soup was salty, but I ate it, not Because the soup was salty, so I added water. Choose one.

so never starts the first idea: not So the soup was salty, I added water.

because + a subject and a verb: because it was icy. With only a noun, say because of: because of the ice.