por lo tanto/por consiguiente/en consecuencia
Consequence Connectors
Use por lo tanto, por consiguiente or en consecuencia for “therefore” or “consequently.”
How It Works
Por lo tanto, por consiguiente and en consecuencia introduce a result or conclusion drawn from earlier information. They are common in formal writing, but they are not forbidden in conversation. Por lo tanto is also widely used outside formal settings.
A Result or an Inference
Hubo un error en el sistema; por consiguiente, se cancelaron las transacciones presents a consequence. Las luces están apagadas; por lo tanto, probablemente no hay nadie presents an inference. The connector signals the speaker’s reasoning; it does not prove that the conclusion is correct.
Punctuation
At the start of a sentence, normally put a comma after the connector: En consecuencia, cambiaremos el plan. Within a clause, set it off with commas: El plan, por lo tanto, debe cambiar. A semicolon or full stop can separate the earlier statement from the conclusion.
Other Choices
Así que and por eso often provide conversational alternatives. Es decir and o sea commonly clarify or reformulate, but o sea que can also introduce an inference. Choose the connector for the intended relationship rather than treating these categories as absolute barriers.
Examples (4)
- No estudié para el examen; por lo tanto, saqué una mala nota.
I didn't study for the exam; therefore, I got a bad grade.
Word by Word: Not I-studied for the exam; for the so-much, I-got a bad grade.
- La empresa tuvo grandes pérdidas el año pasado. Por consiguiente, se anunciaron despidos.
The company had big losses last year. Consequently, layoffs were announced.
Word by Word: The company had big losses the year past. For consequent, themselves they-announced layoffs.
- El acusado mintió bajo juramento y, en consecuencia, fue declarado culpable.
The defendant lied under oath and, as a consequence, was found guilty.
Word by Word: The accused lied under oath and, in consequence, was declared guilty.
- Las pruebas de ADN confirman su coartada; por lo tanto, es inocente.
The DNA tests confirm his alibi; therefore, he is innocent.
Word by Word: The tests of DNA confirm his alibi; for the so-much, he-is innocent.
Common Mistakes
Adding que to por tanto when it functions as the independent connector “therefore.”
No estudié para el examen; por tanto que, saqué una mala nota.No estudié para el examen; por lo tanto, saqué una mala nota.Use por tanto or por lo tanto as the connector, without adding que here. Both por tanto and por lo tanto are valid. Formality alone does not make a consequence connector incorrect in conversation.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn formal consequence connectors like 'por lo tanto', 'por consiguiente', and 'en consecuencia', a learner needs to understand how basic logical links (like 'because') work in Spanish. Additionally, since these phrases are idiomatic and formal, understanding the use of the neuter article 'lo' and basic prepositional structures is necessary to parse the components of the connectors themselves.
- a/de/en/con/sinBasic Prepositions
These connectors are built using basic prepositions ('por', 'en') and articles, requiring a foundation in how prepositions function in Spanish.
Foundations - lo + AdjectiveNominalized Adjectives
The phrase 'por lo tanto' utilizes the neuter article 'lo' to create an abstract nominalized expression, a concept introduced in this prerequisite.
Level 5
Related Patterns
- así que/de forma queResult Connectors
These are less formal connectors that also express a result or consequence. They are the common conversational equivalents of 'por lo tanto'.
Level 5 - ya que/dado que/puesto queCausal Connectors
These are causal connectors that introduce the reason or cause. They answer 'why' something happened, while 'por lo tanto' introduces the result.
Level 5 - sin embargo/no obstanteHowever/Nevertheless
These are contrastive connectors, like 'however' or 'nevertheless'. They introduce an idea that contrasts with the previous one, rather than a consequence of it.
Level 5 - es decir/o seaThat Is (Reformulation)
Es decir and o sea often clarify or reformulate a statement. O sea que can also introduce an inference, overlapping with consequence connectors.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice por lo tanto/por consiguiente/en consecuencia in Bubblegum
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