Activities: “How to talk about why something happened in English?”
Activity 1: Identifying clauses
This activity has two parts.
Part 1
In each sentence, highlight the words in the reason, purpose, or result clause:
- She went to Italy this summer so that she could study art.
- We got some take-out food since we were hungry.
- Because it was sunny, they all wore their bikinis.
- Sally took her binoculars, for she wanted to see the birds.
- I chose the wrong option so I failed the test.
- She called him up so as to find out the real truth.
- As mom was driving that way, she gave me a lift.
- Jake climbed the ladder to see the view.
- Our dad left the car at home so we could take it to soccer practice.
- I’m disappointed now that it's over.
Part 2
For each of the sentences in part 1, decide whether the clause you identified is a reason, purpose, or result clause:
She went to Italy this summer so that she could study art.
We got some take-out food since we were hungry.
Because it was sunny, they all wore their bikinis.
Sally took her binoculars, for she wanted to see the birds.
I chose the wrong option so I failed the test.
She called him up so as to find out the real truth.
As mom was driving that way, she gave me a lift.
Jake climbed the ladder to get on the roof.
Our dad left the car at home so we could take it to soccer practice.
I’m disappointed now the activity is over!
Activity 2: Jilly and the ham sandwich
Fill in each gap with one of the conjunctions from the list below.
Jilly was hungry it was lunch time. She decided to make a sandwich, but first she found her dad she could ask him if he wanted one too. Her dad said that he wasn’t hungry he had eaten his lunch earlier.
Jilly went to the fridge see if there was any ham, but it was all gone her dad had eaten it earlier. Jilly decided she didn’t want to have a sandwich without ham, she pulled out some eggs instead and started to cook them.
Jilly’s dad came into the room he smelled the eggs cooking. “I thought you were making a sandwich,” he said.
“Well somebody ate all the ham, I changed my plans!” Jilly replied.
Jilly’s dad winced, and he made some toast for her apologize.
Activity 3: Correct the sentences
All of the sentences below contain an error. Rewrite the sentence to correct the error!
He traveled to China so that he learned Chinese.
He was tired, thus he did not concentrate fully in the meeting
So she put on her winter coat, it was snowing.
They went to the cinema for seeing the latest romantic comedy.
She put on makeup so as to she could look beautiful.
I like dancing, I therefore try to dance at least once a day.
Pedro and Sally went out for to eat breakfast.
I am worried in case I am too short for the ride.
