be due to
英 /bi ˈdjuː tuː/美 /bi ˈduː tu/
phr. 短语(系动词+介词)
由于;归因于;预期将做
词义解析
“be due to”的核心含义是“归因于”或“由于”,表示某事发生的原因。其本义源于“due”的“应得、应付”之意,引申为“应归于”,进而发展为“因为”。在时间语境中,它又可表示“预期将做”,如“be due to do sth.”,指按计划或预计将要发生。各义项间的引申关系:从“欠债”到“归因”再到“预期”。
词根溯源
“due”源自拉丁语“debere”(欠),经古法语“deu”进入英语,原义为“应得的、应付的”。“be due to”作为短语,字面意为“应归于”,后语法化成为表原因的介词短语。记忆时可联想“欠债应还”,引申为“结果应归因于”。
适用语境
“be due to”广泛用于学术写作、新闻报道、商务邮件和日常口语。在学术和正式文体中,常替代“because of”以显得客观严谨,如“The delay was due to technical issues.”。在新闻报道中,用于说明事件原因,如“The cancellation was due to bad weather.”。在日常口语中,也常见于解释原因,但语气较正式。在时间语境中,如“The train is due to arrive at 5 p.m.”,则用于日常和正式场合,表示预期。
语法说明
“be due to”后接名词或动名词,表示原因,如“His success is due to hard work.”;也可接不定式,表示预期,如“She is due to graduate next year.”。注意:在标准英语中,“due to”作表语时后接名词,而作状语时应用“owing to”,但现代英语中“due to”作状语已普遍接受。易错点:避免在“due to”后接句子(应使用“because”),如“The game was postponed due to it rained.”是错误的,应改为“due to rain”或“because it rained”。
相似词辨析
“be due to”与“owing to”、“because of”、“on account of”相近。区别在于:“due to”强调结果应归于,多用于表语;“owing to”更常用于状语,且更正式;“because of”最通用,口语和书面皆可;“on account of”较正式,且有时带主观色彩。在预期含义上,“be due to”与“be expected to”相近,但“due to”更强调计划性。
使用注意
“be due to”语域中性偏正式,在口语中也可使用,但不如“because of”随意。无褒贬色彩。常见误用:一是将“due to”与“because of”完全等同,在状语位置使用“due to”虽已常见,但在严格语法中仍被部分人视为错误;二是混淆“due to”和“due for”(应得到);三是将“due to”后接从句。建议在正式写作中谨慎区分。
高频搭配
- be due to + 名词
- be due to do sth.
- be due to arrive
- be due to start
- be due to release
- largely due to
- partly due to
- due to the fact that
双语例句
- The postponement of the match was due to heavy rain.比赛延期是由于大雨。
- Her absence is due to illness.她缺席是因为生病。
- The new policy is due to come into effect next month.新政策预计下月生效。
- The company's financial problems are largely due to poor management.公司的财务问题很大程度上归因于管理不善。
- The flight is due to arrive at 6:30 pm.航班预计下午6:30到达。
- The accident was due to the driver's negligence.事故是由于司机疏忽造成的。