Readnihongo app icon

Readnihongo

Read Japanese, beautifully.

N3

Cause and Effect Across Sentences

About 10 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Cause and result are often separated

In reading passages, the cause does not always appear in the same sentence as the result. You may need to connect one sentence that explains a problem with a later sentence that gives the outcome or response.

  1. Target signal

    朝から強い雨が降っていた。そのため、試合は中止になった。

    Heavy rain had been falling since morning. As a result, the game was canceled.

    An explicit result marker links the cause sentence to the outcome.

    Vocabulary notes
    そのため
    for that reason; therefore
    ため〜ため
    because of; for the purpose of
    いた
    was there

  2. Compare in context

    駅前の道路が工事中だ。そこで、バスは別の道を通ることになった。

    The road in front of the station is under construction. Therefore, the bus will take a different route.

    そこで introduces the response taken because of the situation.

    Vocabulary notes
    ことに
    into the situation that; in the arrangement that
    そこで
    there; so then
    こと
    thing; matter; fact

Section 2 of 3

Common signals

Look for result markers such as そのため, その結果, そこで, and だから. Also watch for nouns like 理由, 影響, and 結果. Even without explicit markers, real-world logic often links one event to the next.

  1. Target signal

    資料にミスが見つかった。その結果、発表は延期された。

    Errors were found in the materials. As a result, the presentation was postponed.

    その結果 clearly marks the later consequence.

    Vocabulary notes
    その
    that
    発表はっぴょう
    announcement; presentation
    資料しりょう
    materials; documents

  2. Preview

    電池が切れていた。機械は動かなかった。

    The battery was dead. The machine did not work.

    Cause and result without an explicit connector.

    Vocabulary notes
    いた
    was there
    かな
    I wonder; maybe
    機械きかい
    machine

Section 3 of 3

Reading focus

When a question asks why something happened, scan backward. When it asks what happened because of a situation, scan forward. This habit is especially useful in short articles and notices.

  1. Target signal

    雪の影響で高速道路が閉鎖された。配達は明日に変更された。

    Because of the snow, the highway was closed. Delivery was changed to tomorrow.

    The consequence is recovered by scanning forward from the cause.

    Vocabulary notes
    明日あした
    tomorrow
    道路どうろ
    road
    配達はいたつ
    delivery

  2. Preview

    利用者が増えたため、受付時間を延長した。

    Because the number of users increased, the reception hours were extended.

    The omitted subject can still be inferred from the policy context.

    Vocabulary notes
    利用者りようしゃ
    user
    ため〜ため
    because of; for the purpose of
    した
    did

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Cause and Effect Across Sentences changes the meaning before you check the translation.

朝から強い雨が降っていた。そのため、試合は中止になった。 駅前の道路が工事中だ。そこで、バスは別の道を通ることになった。 資料にミスが見つかった。その結果、発表は延期された。 電池が切れていた。機械は動かなかった。 雪の影響で高速道路が閉鎖された。配達は明日に変更された。 利用者が増えたため、受付時間を延長した。

Show English translation

Heavy rain had been falling since morning. As a result, the game was canceled. The road in front of the station is under construction. Therefore, the bus will take a different route. Errors were found in the materials. As a result, the presentation was postponed. The battery was dead. The machine did not work. Because of the snow, the highway was closed. Delivery was changed to tomorrow. Because the number of users increased, the reception hours were extended.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Cause and Effect Across Sentences changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Cause and Effect Across Sentences changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Cause and Effect Across Sentences in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

Which expression most clearly marks a result?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Cause and Effect Across Sentences).

朝から強い雨が降っていた。＿＿＿、試合は中止になった。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1駅前の道路が工事中だ。そこで、バスは別の道を通ることになった。
  2. 2資料にミスが見つかった。その結果、発表は延期された。
  3. 3朝から強い雨が降っていた。そのため、試合は中止になった。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Cause and Effect Across Sentences in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/4

Which expression most clearly marks a result?