Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[James.E]

hello,
I would like to get an explanation of "due to", which could help me to understand the sentance below.
All I have known about "due to" is that it is a formal expression which means "because of".
But I still cannot understand the sentence after I replace "due to" with "because of".
Thank you for telling me something about it.

Last week, the EU soldiers put on a show, practising hostage rescues and jumping out of helicopters. Next week, some French Mirage jets are due to arrive. But, so far, the EU presence has done little more than reinforce perceptions that foreigners just want to oversee the peaceful coronation of the incumbent, Mr Kabila, rather than a truly open election.
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Marx says that a foreign language is a weapon in the struggle of life.

[CP]

This is not the same "due to," which is why substituting "because of" doesn't work. When something is due, its time has come, it is scheduled to happen. "The train is due in the station / due to arrive at the station at 9:00. It is due to leave again at 9:15."

So this sentence means that the jets are scheduled to arrive next week.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[James.E]

[LucentShade]

There are a few different uses of "due," and many share the concept of owing, obligation, or expectation:

# owed and payable immediately or on demand; "payment is due"
# that which is deserved or owed; "give the devil his due"
# due(p): scheduled to arrive; "the train is due in 15 minutes"
# suitable to or expected in the circumstances; "all due respect"; "due cause to honor them"; "a long due promotion"; "in due course"; "due esteem"; " exercising due care"

[James.E]

Thank you LS for the additional example and explanation.
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Marx says that a foreign language is a weapon in the struggle of life.