There are certain adverbs that can play the role of conjunction. Let us see the use of the word “consequently” as a conjunction.
The word “consequently” is originally an adverb that sometimes becomes a “conjunction” to show the consequences of any event or activity by connecting two independent clauses.
Let us check five facts related to the use of the word “consequently” as a “conjunction”.
When is “consequently” considered as conjunction?
There are certain rules which a word needs to be followed to be called a conjunction. Let us check the role of the word “consequently” as a conjunction.
The word “consequently” can be considered a conjunction when it connects two independent clauses into one to show “cause and effect” because it is not a simple conjunction but a “conjunctive adverb”.
Now, we will go through some sentences that are framed with the conjunctive adverb “consequently.”
| Conjunctive Adverb | Meaning | Example | Explanation |
| “consequently” | “as a result” | Mina never listens to her teacher’s instructions properly in class; consequently, she always faces problems doing her homework. | The word “consequently” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” because it connects the second independent clause “she always faces problems doing her homework” with the first independent clause “Mina never listens to her teacher’s instructions properly in class” to depict the meaning “as a result.” |
How is “consequently” a conjunctive adverb?
Not all, but some adverbs play the role of conjunctions, and there are some specific punctuation rules to use them. Let us see the use of the word “consequently” as a conjunctive adverb.
The word “consequently” becomes a “conjunctive adverb” in such a way that it connects two independent clauses to show a “cause and effect” relationship while depicting the meaning “as a result.”
Punctuation Rule –
- There is a specific punctuation rule to be followed while using a conjunctive adverb in a sentence.
- We need to put the punctuation mark “semicolon” at the end of the first independent clause and must use the punctuation mark “comma” after the conjunctive adverb “consequently”.
- The conjunctive adverb “consequently” should be placed in front of the second independent clause in small letters.
Example: My niece gained a high position in a very short time in his office; consequently, he had to face lots of office politics.
Explanation:
The word “consequently” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” because it connects the second independent clause “he had to face lots of office politics” with the first independent clause “My niece gained a high position in a very short time in his office” to depict the meaning “as a result.”
Examples of “consequently” as conjunctive adverb-
Here are some examples that are framed with the conjunctive adverb “consequently,” along with related explanations.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. The interview process was delayed for an hour; consequently, candidates were out of patience to give the interview. | The word “consequently” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” because it connects the second independent clause “candidates were out of patience to give the interview” with the first independent clause “The interview process was delayed for an hour” to depict the meaning “as a result.” |
| 2. Our company likes to give performance bonuses to their employees; consequently, employees love to perform their best for the profit of the company. | The word “consequently” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” because it connects the second independent clause “employees love to perform their best for the profit of the company” with the first independent clause “Our company likes to give performance bonuses to their employees” to depict the meaning “as a result.” |
| 3. Mina had burnt the cake; consequently, the birthday party was ruined due to the lack of birthday cake. | The word “consequently” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” because it connects the second independent clause “the birthday party was ruined due to the lack of birthday cake” with the first independent clause “Mina had burnt the cake” to depict the meaning “as a result.” |
| 4. The menu of the lunch party is very tasty; consequently, waiters become out of food items in a few servings. | The word “consequently” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” because it connects the second independent clause “waiters become out of food items in a few servings” with the first independent clause “The menu of the lunch party is very tasty” to depict the meaning “as a result.” |
| 5. My school teachers are not only efficient but also very friendly to their students; consequently, students love to share their hurdles with their mentors. | The word “consequently” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” because it connects the second independent clause “students love to share their hurdles with their mentors” with the first independent clause “My school teachers are not only efficient but also very friendly to their students” to depict the meaning “as a result.” |
When is “consequently” not considered as conjunction?
The word “consequently” is part of two types of parts of speech in the English language. Let us check the role the word “consequently” plays except for being a conjunctive adverb.
The word “consequently” is truly an “adverb” which sometimes plays the role of a “conjunctive adverb,” though the meaning remains the same in both types of parts of speech, i.e., “as a result.”
Punctuation rule to use the word “consequently” as an adverb –
- If we want to place the word “consequently” in the middle of two clauses, then there must be another conjunction that connects those respective clauses.
- If we place the adverb “consequently” at the beginning of a sentence, then we must put the punctuation mark “comma” after the adverb.
Example: My father has been ill since my childhood days. Consequently, I had to stop studying to earn a livelihood for the family.
Explanation:
The word “consequently” can be marked as an “adverb” as it shows the consequences of the tragedy that happened to the speaker. The punctuation mark “comma” has been placed after the adverb “consequently” because the adverb is situated at the start of the sentence to depict the meaning “as a result”.
Examples of “consequently” not considered as conjunctions-
Here are some examples and related explanations regarding the use of the word “consequently” in a sentence but not as a conjunction.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. A heavy rainfall is in outside since yesterday morning. Consequently, all the roads are entirely flooded. | The word “consequently” can be marked as an “adverb” as it shows the consequences of the heavy rainfall on roads without connecting clauses. |
| 2. Global warming is a man made curse. Consequently, we are bearing the curse which we have given to ourselves. | The word “consequently” can be marked as an “adverb” as it shows the consequences of man-made global warming on human beings without connecting clauses. |
| 3. My father is always busy with household chores, even in his eighties. Consequently, he never faces any health issues. | The word “consequently” can be marked as an “adverb” as it shows the consequences of doing regular exercise even at the age of eighty without connecting clauses. |
| 4. Mina always spends time with her best friend Renu. Consequently, other girls do not want to be their playmates. | The word “consequently” can be marked as an “adverb” as it shows the consequences of spending time with a single friend without connecting clauses. |
| 5. Consequently, Pijush needs to enhance his singing skills more than others. | The word “consequently” can be marked as an “adverb” as it shows the consequences that Pijush needs to enhance his singing skills without connecting clauses. |
Conclusion:
We can keep a point about the confusion between the meanings of “therefore” and “consequently” because both of the conjunctive adverbs show a “cause and effect” relationship between two independent clauses. Thus, their outer meaning seems the same, but their inner meaning has a slight difference. The meaning of the conjunctive adverb “consequently” is “as a result,” while the meaning of the conjunctive adverb “therefore” is “because of that reason.”
Hey! I am Arpita Bose Roy. My qualifications are M.A. in English with B. Ed. in both general education and special education. I have 2 years of experience as a “language analyst” at IIT Kharagpur and 4 years of experience as an “Academic Content Developer” at IIT Kharagpur. Currently, I am working as an academic writer at Lambdageeks.