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Ricky06 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
so vs therefore
I know that #1 is correct but #2 is not:
1. I was hungry so I ate the cake.
2. I was hungry therefore I ate the cake.
#2 should be written as:
3. I was hungry and therefore I ate the cake.
(or I was hungry; therefore I ate the cake.)
I also know that it's because "so" is a conjunction while "therefore" is an adverb.
My question is what determines a word to be a conjunction or an adverb. Apart from checking it up in the dictionary, do we have a logical way to tell?
Thanks.
Ricky
1. I was hungry so I ate the cake.
2. I was hungry therefore I ate the cake.
#2 should be written as:
3. I was hungry and therefore I ate the cake.
(or I was hungry; therefore I ate the cake.)
I also know that it's because "so" is a conjunction while "therefore" is an adverb.
My question is what determines a word to be a conjunction or an adverb. Apart from checking it up in the dictionary, do we have a logical way to tell?
Thanks.
Ricky
Top answer
Hello Ricky No, unfortunately: there are no morphological features that distinguish one from another. But if you read plenty of different kinds of English, from different sources, you'll acquire an ear for the usual distribution of common words. MrP
- Hello Ricky No, unfortunately: there are no morphological features that distinguish one from another.
- But if you read plenty of different kinds of English, from different sources, you'll acquire an ear for the usual distribution of common words.
- MrP
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6 Answers
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Hello Ricky
No, unfortunately: there are no morphological features that distinguish one from another.
But if you read plenty of different kinds of English, from different sources, you'll acquire an ear for the usual distribution of common words.
MrP
No, unfortunately: there are no morphological features that distinguish one from another.
But if you read plenty of different kinds of English, from different sources, you'll acquire an ear for the usual distribution of common words.
MrP
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Thanks, MrP.
According to the dictionary, "so" means "and for that reason; therefore". In other words, "so" and "therefore" are identical in meaning. If it's the case, I don't understand why they can be of different word types. For example, if I know that a word "xyz" means the same as "hungry", I'd expect "xyz" to be an adjective. Could anyone think of a "reason" for the difference, or
According to the dictionary, "so" means "and for that reason; therefore". In other words, "so" and "therefore" are identical in meaning. If it's the case, I don't understand why they can be of different word types. For example, if I know that a word "xyz" means the same as "hungry", I'd expect "xyz" to be an adjective. Could anyone think of a "reason" for the difference, or
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My dictionary shows "so" as an adverb and as a conjunction.
It also shows "therefore" as an adverb and as a conjunction.
The example of "therefore" as an adverb is (coincidentally!):
Your information is inaccurate and your conclusion therefore wrong.
The example of "therefore" as a conjunction is:
I lost my money; therefore, I could no
It also shows "therefore" as an adverb and as a conjunction.
The example of "therefore" as an adverb is (coincidentally!):
Your information is inaccurate and your conclusion therefore wrong.
The example of "therefore" as a conjunction is:
I lost my money; therefore, I could no
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SO and THEREFORE are NOT the same although they can be used ALMOST (you'll see why) exchangeably in sentences such as:
"I woke up late so I missed the train".
"I woke up late. Therefore, I missed the train".
The meaning is exactly the same, except that THEREFORE is more formal (although THUS is even more formal but mostly used in writing) than SO (which is usually used
"I woke up late so I missed the train".
"I woke up late. Therefore, I missed the train".
The meaning is exactly the same, except that THEREFORE is more formal (although THUS is even more formal but mostly used in writing) than SO (which is usually used
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CalifJimI lost my money; therefore, I could not buy a ticket.Please tell me if it is possible to put it this way : I lost my money, therefore, I could not buy a ticket. ('therefore' as conjunction)
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