due to表示“因为”、“由于”之意,但用法和使用场合有所不同。 在标准英语里,due to只能用以引导形容词短语,不可引导副词短语。例如: Our delay was due to heavy traffic. Mistakes due to carelessness may have serious consequences. 在第一例中,due to引导的短语在句中作
表语,用在 verb“to be”之后;在第二例中,due to引导的短语作定语,修饰前面的主语mistakes.主张语言纯正者(purists)认为,due to不能引导副词短语,因此,下列句中的 due to应改为 owing to或 because of: Due to ill health,he could not attend the meeting 由于健康不佳,他不能参加会议。 事实上,在现代英语中,due to也经常用以引导副词短语,下面数句均摘自英美刊物: Due to the weather,the flight was cancelled.
He failed due to carelessness.