In the cause and effect relationship, what comes first?

In a cause and effect relationship, the cause is the event or action that initiates the chain of events, leading to a particular outcome or effect. Understanding this relationship helps to clarify how one event can lead to another. For instance, if you water a plant (the cause), it will grow (the effect). The cause must occur before the effect can happen, establishing that without a cause, there cannot be an effect. This relationship is foundational in understanding events in literature, science, and everyday situations, which makes recognizing the cause as the first element essential.