italiano · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Cause and consequence
Choose connectors by whether a clause or noun follows and by rhetorical viewpoint.
Understand the choice
Connector choice frames the cause. Perché answers why neutrally, poiché treats it as known/formal, grazie a presents a positive cause, and a causa di often a negative one.
Core rule: Perché/poiché introduce clauses; a causa di/grazie a introduce nouns; quindi/perciò introduce consequences.
Notice it in context
Poiché la strada era chiusa, abbiamo preso un altro percorso.
Since the road was closed, we took another route.
Poiché opens a cause clause; abbiamo…preso records its completed consequence.
Il volo è stato cancellato a causa della nebbia.
The flight was cancelled because of fog.
A causa di takes noun nebbia and articulates della.
Si è allenata molto, quindi è migliorata.
She trained a lot, so she improved.
Quindi connects effort to result.
What to remember
- Dato che and siccome introduce clauses; siccome commonly begins the sentence.
- Perciò and quindi are connective adverbs and do not subordinate.
Common trap: Do not put a finite clause directly after a causa di.