till följd av
As a Result of
Use 'till följd av' to say 'as a result of' or 'as a consequence of', connecting an event to its outcome.
How It Works
'Till följd av' is a formal way to express causality, translating to 'as a result of', 'as a consequence of', or 'following'. It can take a noun phrase or an att-clause: till följd av regnet or till följd av att det regnade. A bare finite clause does not fit directly after av.
Key Characteristics:
- Formality: It is more formal than the common på grund av (because of/due to) and is primarily used in written language, news, and official contexts.
- Connotation: The expression identifies a result without requiring it to be negative or serious. To credit a beneficial cause, tack vare (thanks to) is useful, but it is not obligatory for every positive outcome.
- Structure: The typical structure is: [Effect/Result] + till följd av + [Cause/Event (Noun Phrase)].
Comparison with similar phrases:
- till följd av: Often formal; identifies a cause and its result. Followed by a noun phrase or att-clause.
Ex: Butiken stängde till följd av minskad försäljning. (The store closed as a result of decreased sales.) - på grund av: Common in both speech and writing. Can be followed by a noun phrase or att-clause.
Ex: Jag kom sent på grund av trafiken. (I was late because of the traffic.) - tack vare: Normally credits a beneficial cause; ironic uses are also possible. Can be followed by a noun phrase or att-clause.
Ex: Vi vann matchen tack vare vår målvakt. (We won the game thanks to our goalkeeper.) - därför att: A conjunction used to introduce a full clause (subject + verb) explaining a reason.
Ex: Butiken stängde därför att försäljningen hade minskat. (The store closed because sales had decreased.)
Positive Results Are PossibleHon fick jobbet till följd av sin utmärkta intervju is grammatical and presents the interview as the cause. Tack vare sin utmärkta intervju more explicitly credits it as beneficial. The difference is perspective, not correct versus incorrect Swedish.
Examples (5)
- Vägen stängdes av till följd av olyckan.
The road was closed as a result of the accident.
Word by Word: The road was closed off as a result of the accident.
- Flera flyg försenades till följd av den tekniska störningen.
Several flights were delayed as a result of the technical disruption.
Word by Word: Several flights were delayed as a result of the technical disruption.
- Företaget gick i konkurs till följd av dålig förvaltning.
The company went bankrupt as a result of poor management.
Word by Word: The company went into bankruptcy as a result of bad management.
- Han fick lungproblem till följd av många års rökning.
He developed lung problems as a consequence of many years of smoking.
Word by Word: He got lung problems as a result of many years' smoking.
- Många förlorade sina hem till följd av den plötsliga översvämningen.
Many lost their homes as a result of the sudden flood.
Word by Word: Many lost their homes as a result of the sudden flooding.
Common Mistakes
Putting a bare finite clause directly after av.
Matchen ställdes in till följd av det regnade kraftigt.Matchen ställdes in till följd av det kraftiga regnet.After
av, use a noun phrase or introduce the finite clause withatt:till följd av det kraftiga regnetortill följd av att det regnade kraftigt. Another option isdärför att det regnade kraftigt.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'till följd av' (as a result of), a learner needs to be familiar with the basic prepositions 'till' and 'av' which frame the expression. Additionally, recognizing the noun 'följd' (consequence) is necessary to grasp the literal meaning of 'to the consequence of'.
- avOf/by
The preposition 'av' is the final component of this phrase and is essential for understanding how the phrase links to the following noun or noun phrase.
Level 1 - tillTo
The preposition 'till' is the initial component of this fixed expression, establishing the directional or relational start of the phrase.
Level 1 - -ningAction/result Noun
The word 'följd' is related to the noun-forming patterns of results and actions; understanding how nouns are derived helps in recognizing 'följd' as 'consequence' or 'result'.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- på grund avBecause Of/due to
Both introduce a cause; till följd av foregrounds the resulting consequence and often sounds more formal. Neither requires an outcome to be negative.
Level 4 - tack vareThanks to
Tack vare normally credits a beneficial cause, sometimes ironically. Till följd av can also describe positive results without the same appreciative framing.
Level 4 - därför attBecause
Därför att directly introduces a finite clause. Till följd av can take a noun phrase or an att-clause:
Level 2till följd av att det regnade. - eftersomBecause/since
Eftersom introduces a reason clause. Till följd av introduces a causal basis with a noun phrase or att-clause, often in formal prose.
Level 2 - trotsDespite/in Spite of
'Trots' (despite) is a preposition of concession, showing a result that happens in spite of a cause, not because of it. It's useful to contrast with causal prepositions like 'till följd av'.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice till följd av in Bubblegum
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