causes - Master This Word
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causes Word Meanings
- the reason something happens
- a person or thing that brings about an effect
- to make something happen
causes Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
causes Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/kɔːz/
US
/kɔz/
causes Word Etymology
cause = causare (Latin) which means 'to bring about'. Historical origin: Latin → Old French → English. Memory image: Imagine a chain reaction where one event triggers another, like a domino effect, where the first domino is the 'cause' of all subsequent falls.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I place my hand on the switch and push. The room answers with a soft click and light floods the space, and I feel the shift travel from finger to lamp. I hold the position, then ease the pressure as the brightness settles, a small effort that tastes of focus and control. In that moment I sense that my action is the cause of the change, the quiet thread that ties intention to result.
Real Context
Cause is the reason something happens, or a person or thing that brings about an effect. In everyday English, you’ll hear about different kinds of causes: the primary cause, a contributing cause, or a chain of causes that lead to a result. When you discuss cause, you can refer to events, actions, or conditions that prompt an outcome, as in a storm causing flooding or a decision causing change at work. Remember that 'cause' is often paired with 'effect'; asking what caused something helps explain why it happened and can help predict what might happen next.
Usage Reminders
- • Learn the noun vs verb forms of cause.
- • Use 'the cause of' to specify the reason; 'to cause' to describe what makes something happen.
- • Distinguish cause from reason, and from effect.
- • Recognize 'main/primary' vs 'contributing' causes in a chain.
- • Remember be caused by for passive structures.
Common Misconceptions
- Cause is the trigger that makes something happen; reason explains why someone thinks or acts.
- Not every effect has a single cause; many events have multiple contributing causes.
- Cause can be a noun or a verb; after 'be', 'be caused by' indicates passive causation.
- Use 'the cause of' to introduce a specific reason for an outcome (the cause of the accident).
- In formal writing, prefer 'reason' for explanations of motives and 'cause' for triggering events.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker how cause links a trigger to an outcome, and how it differs from 'reason' in nuance and usage.
Learning Tips
- 1) Learn 'cause' as a noun (the reason) and as a verb (to cause something to happen).
- 2) Use 'the cause of' for a specific reason; 'to cause' when describing what triggers something.
- 3) Distinguish cause from reason and from effect.
- 4) Practice with 'main/primary' vs 'contributing' causes in chains.
- 5) Learn common collocations: 'cause of the problem', 'cause and effect'.
- 6) Practice passive forms: be caused by.
Related Listening
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