Giving Reasons and Explanations - Functional Language
Practise giving reasons and explanations at A2–B1 level with useful phrase patterns and short situation-based responses. A separate page of suggested answers supports checking and discussion of other appropriate responses.
What’s in the worksheet?
- Useful phrase patterns
- Situation-based response practice
- Space for written responses
- Suggested answers on page 2
Connect a reason with an action or result using the correct clause or noun pattern.
Worksheet preview
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Page 1 of 2 · A4 printable PDF
Page 2 of 2 · Answer key · A4 printable PDF
A simple way to teach it
Before the lesson
Use page 1 for learners and retain the suggested answers on page 2 until after independent responses.
- Contrast because my bus was delayed with because of the delay; identify which part gives the cause.
- Write explanations for lateness, the cancelled picnic, early train and other situations using varied links.
- Reverse one explanation into cause then result with so or That's why, checking that the meaning stays the same.
Support and extension
Provide cause/result arrows and noun alternatives. Extend by using For this reason or As a result across two sentences. Accept accurate paraphrases; avoid because of followed directly by a finite clause.
Suggested approach. Adjust the pace and number of questions to suit your class.
