Understanding Cause and Effect
You know that in a cause -and-effect relationship, one event or action, the cause, results in another event or action, the effect. Conditions and feelings, as well as events and actions, can be causes and effects.
When he found himself falling through space, the spaceman became frightened.
In this sentence, the effect, the spaceman’s becoming frightened, was caused by his finding himself falling through space.
You have also probably noticed that a single event, action, condition, or feeling can be both an effect and a cause.
When the starship took off suddenly, the spaceman fell off into space. He became frightened.
In the sentences above, three things are described.
The
starship took off suddenly (cause)
The
spaceship fell off into space (effect) & (cause)
The spaceman became frightened.
NOTICE THAT THE SECOND SENTENCE IS A CAUSE AND AN EFFECT.
© Ellen Gabor, 2003