por iso / así que / polo tanto

Expressing Consequences

Level 3

Por iso (that is why), así que (so) and polo tanto (therefore) introduce a result, as in Estaba canso, por iso marchei (I was tired, that is why I left).

How It Works

Por iso literally means "because of that". The iso is the neuter demonstrative pointing back at the cause: Perdín o autobús, por iso cheguei tarde (I missed the bus, so I arrived late). It often follows e: e por iso (and that is why).

Así que joins two clauses, usually after a comma: Chove, así que colle o paraugas. At the start of a sentence it draws a conclusion from what you have just heard: Así que marchas mañá? (So you are leaving tomorrow?).

Polo tanto (also written por tanto; both are standard) is usually set off with commas and can sit in the middle of the sentence: O museo pecha os luns; polo tanto, iremos o martes.

Galician spellings: write por iso, not Spanish por eso; polo tanto, not por lo tanto; and así always carries its accent.

A second meaning of así que: it can also mean "as soon as": Así que chegou, meteuse na cama (As soon as he arrived, he went to bed). The sentence makes clear which meaning is intended.

More ways to say "so": in conversation you will also hear daquela and logo. De xeito que also introduces a result, and formal writing prefers xa que logo and por conseguinte.

Examples (6)

  1. Estaba canso, por iso marchei.

    I was tired, that is why I left.

    Word by Word: Was-I tired, for that left-I.

    The cause comes first; por iso opens the result.

  2. Perdín o autobús, por iso cheguei tarde.

    I missed the bus, so I arrived late.

    Word by Word: Lost-I the bus, for that arrived-I late.

  3. Chove, así que colle o paraugas.

    It is raining, so take the umbrella.

    Word by Word: Rains, so that take the umbrella.

    Así que is the everyday conversational choice.

  4. Xa é moi tarde, así que imos para a casa.

    It is already very late, so let's go home.

    Word by Word: Already is very late, so that go-we to the house.

  5. O museo pecha os luns; polo tanto, iremos o martes.

    The museum is closed on Mondays, so we will go on Tuesday.

    Word by Word: The museum closes the Mondays; by-the so-much, will-go-we the Tuesday.

    Polo tanto is often set off with commas.

  6. Así que marchas mañá?

    So you are leaving tomorrow?

    Word by Word: So that leave-you tomorrow?

    At the start of a sentence, así que draws a conclusion from what was just said.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Spanish form por lo tanto.

    Non estudou, por lo tanto suspendeu.
    Non estudou, polo tanto suspendeu.

    Galician joins por and the article into polo. Por tanto, without the article, is also correct.

  • Using the Spanish form por eso.

    Estaba cansa, por eso non saín.
    Estaba cansa, por iso non saín.

    The Galician neuter demonstrative is iso, so the connector is por iso.

  • Putting por iso in front of the cause.

    Marchei, por iso estaba canso.
    Marchei porque estaba canso.

    Por iso always opens the result. The incorrect sentence says that being tired was a result of leaving. To give the cause, use porque, or reverse the order: Estaba canso, por iso marchei.

How It Connects

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por iso / así que / polo tantoLevel 3Expressing Consequences

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These connectors introduce the result of a preceding cause.

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Words in This Pattern

así que