【问】 我知道英语里表达原因的手段是很多的，但很难理出个头绪来，请归纳一下。
 【答】 英语里表达原因的手段非常之多，有必要在这里归纳一下，以便掌握和运用。
 A.介词： with，because of，by virtue of，in(the) light of，in view of，on account of，owing to，due to，with all，from，for，through，out of
 1. With these data，we can carry out the experiments we planned. (PAP)
 由于有了这些资料，我们可以进行我们计划好的实验了。
 2. He retired last month because of illness. (EED)
 他上个月因病退休了。
 3. He was an object of interest simply in virtue of being British.(EED)
 他成为注意的目标，仅仅因为他是个英国人。
 4. In the light of these changes we must revise our plan. (MED)
 由于发生了这些变化，我们必须修改我们的计划。
 5. In view of the Committee's criticisms of him，he felt he had to resign. (Chambers)
 考虑到委员会对他的批评，他认为他必须辞职。
 6. That was on account of the lack of exercises. (Sinclair)
 这是由于缺少身体锻炼的缘故。
 7. There is scarcity of fruit owing to the rain. (UED)
 由于下雨，现在水果很少。
 8. Last year the country had fewer imports than it did the year before due to the energycrisis. (TOEFL，1972)
 去年由于能源危机这个国家的进口比上一年少。
 9. With all this noise，I couldn't sleep. (CGEL)
 由于这种嘈杂声，我无法入睡。
 10. She shivered from cold. (MD)
 她冷得发抖。
 11. I hid the money，for fear of what my parents would say. (CGEL)
 由于担心父母会说些什么，我把钱藏了起来。
 12. He lost his job through his own stupidity. (Chambers)
 他由于自己的愚蠢而失掉了工作。
 13. She did it out of pity. (RCD)
 她这样做是出于怜悯。
 B.分词短语、形容词短语
 1. Assured of your support，he would not compromise. (CGEL)
 由于他确信会得到你的支持，他是不会妥协的。
 2. Being a dancer myself，I have excellent posture.
 由于我自己是舞蹈演员，所以我姿态优美。
 C.动词不定式短语
 1. He’s foolish to make such a fuss. (CGEL)
 他如此小题大做，真是太傻了。
 2. I was a fool not to listen to you at the time.
 我当时没有听你的话，真是个大傻瓜。
 D.独立分词结构
 1. All the tickets having been sold out，we had to go again next day.
 由于所有票都已售完，所以我们第二天还得去。
 2. Aluminium being very soft，we can press it easily into any shapes desired.
 (由于)铝很软，所以我们可以很容易地将它压成所需要的任何形状。
 E.介词独立结构
 1. With the exams coming next week，I have no time for a social life.(CGEL)
 由于下周就要进行考试，所以我没有时间从事社交活动。
 2. With so many people absent，the meeting had to be postponed.
 由于许多人缺席，会议不得不延期。
 F.从属连词because，as，since，now(that)，seeing(that)，seeing(as)，in that，as long as，inasmuch as，while，for①
 1.I couldn’t see Helen’s expression because her head was turned... (EED)我未能看到海伦的表情，因为她把头转了过去……
 2. Everybody likes him，as he is kind and honest.
 人人喜欢他，因为他和气而诚实。
 3. Since you insist，I must go.
 因为你坚持，我必须走了。
 4. Now that she’s found him，she’ll never let him go... (EED)
 既然她找到了他，她就绝不让他走了……
 5. Seeing that you’re the guest on this little trip，you can decide where we’re going.(EED)
 由于你是这次小小旅行的客人，所以你可以决定我们去那里。
 6. The evidence is invalid in that it was obtained through illegal means. (CGEL)
 这个证据无效，因为它是通过不合法的手段取得的。
 7. As long as you’re here，we might as well talk about your last game.(CGEL)
 既然你在这里，我们不妨来谈一谈你的最后一场比赛。
 8. Forgive them，inasmuch as they are young.
 原谅他们吧，因为他们还小。
 9. While you’re in the kitchen，bring me another drink. (CGEL)
 ① 我国英语语法著作，如张道真《实用英语语法》(P.452)，薄冰《高级英语语法》(P.646)均把for看作是并列连词(等立连词)，但是CGEL则把for看作是从属连词(见§13.18)。
 既然你在厨房，那就再给我拿一杯饮料吧。
 10. Don't swear，for I dislike swearing. (Partridge)
 不要发誓，因为我不喜欢发誓。
 11. Percy is in Washington，for he phoned me from there. (CGEL)
 珀西现在在华盛顿，因为他从那里给我来过电话。
 12. She must have gone out early，for she had not shown up at breakfast. (Macaulay)
 她一定很早就外出了，因为吃早饭时她没有露面。
 应当指出，for有时并不表示直接的原因，而是表示动机，或者表示推断某事的理由，如例11—12。(参见for/because)