Syntax & Writing System · entry 24 of 33

Consequence Connectors (επομένως / συνεπώς / άρα)

The consequence family draws a RESULT from the previous sentence - “therefore / so / consequently”. επομένως (“therefore”) is the neutral-to-formal workhorse: «Διάβασε πολύ. Επομένως, πέρασε». άρα (“so, therefore”) is the EVERYDAY logical “so”, the one you say when drawing a quick inference: «Είναι κουρασμένος· άρα, δεν δουλεύει». συνεπώς (“consequently”) is the FORMAL / written cousin: «Το εισιτήριο είναι ακριβό. Συνεπώς, δεν το παίρνω». All three open a NEW sentence with a comma and take the plain INDICATIVE - a consequence is stated as fact, never with να. Keep them apart from Module 11’s γιατί (“because”): γιατί points BACK to a cause inside one sentence, while επομένως / άρα / συνεπώς point FORWARD to a result across a new sentence - same logical link, opposite direction and scope. Register: άρα everyday; επομένως neutral-to-formal; συνεπώς formal.

The rule

Consequence connectors open a sentence that draws a result from the one before - English “therefore / so / consequently”. επομένως (“therefore”) is the neutral-to-formal workhorse: Διάβασε πολύ. Επομένως, πέρασε. άρα (“so, therefore”) is the everyday logical “so”: Είναι κουρασμένος· άρα, δεν δουλεύει. συνεπώς (“consequently”) is the formal / written cousin: Το εισιτήριο είναι ακριβό. Συνεπώς, δεν το παίρνω. All three take the plain indicative - a consequence is stated as fact. Keep them apart from Module 11’s γιατί (“because”, see Reporting a Statement’s clause logic): γιατί points back to a cause inside one sentence, while επομένως / άρα / συνεπώς point forward to a result across a new sentence - same logical link, opposite direction and scope.