(1) ①owing to是由动词短语变来的，其本意是欠某人的债，引申为“把功劳、名誉、成功等归于……”，现转义为“因为，由于”，相当于because of, on account of。在due to短语中，due为形容词，due to意思是“由于，起因于……”。
- This traffic accident was due to careless driving.
这次交通事故是由于粗心驾驶造成的。 - Owing to the driver's careless driving, they had a bad accident.
由于司机的粗心驾驶，他们发生了严重的事故。 - Our success is due to the assistance of the fraternal factories.
我们的成功是由于兄弟厂的支援才取得的。
②按照语法规则，owing to一般引起短语作状语，间或也作表语，表示“是由……造成的”。due to引起的短语只能作表语，不能用作状语，而且在习惯上一般不放在句首。但美国人也常将due to引起的短语用作状语。
- UP quotes the premier as saying “Due to the danger of war now emerging in this region, we'll have to conduct nuclear tests.”
美联社引用这位总理的话说，“由于目前该地区出现的战争危险，我们将不得不进行核试验”。 - His death was owing to a road accident.
他死于一场马路交通事故。
(2) on account of意思也是“由于，因为”，常可与另外两个短语换用。
- I've come to know Mr. Hill modestly well on account of/owing to this business.
由于这件事情,我对希尔先生有了较好的了解。 - Owing to/On account of his nervous restlessness, Jim was never left alone.
由于吉姆容易紧张不安，从未让他单独待过。 - Your poor health is mainly on account of/due to the lack of exercises.
你健康不佳主要是因为缺乏锻炼。
(3) on (the) grounds of，有时用on ground of或on the ground of,也表示“由于”，常用于表示做某事的原因。
- He left two days earlier on the grounds of ill health.
由于健康不佳，他提前两天离开了。 - He was excused on ground of his being young and ignorant.
由于年幼无知，他被宽恕了。
