The rain scotched his plans of going to the beach.

His alcoholism had a direct effect on his health, and indirectly caused problems for others.

While the decision to offer a baby for adoption is usually morally admirable in itself, for both the birth parents and the adoptive parents, the commendability of adoption says nothing about the moral acceptability of the circumstances in which conception occurred.

[…] the door-bell jingled peremptorily, and the girl left waiting on the table to go and answer it.