1. because of 是复合介词,其后可接名词或代词,动名词以及由关系代词型的所what 引导的从句等(但不能接that从句)。如:
He lost his job because of his age. 由于年龄关系他失去工作。
I said nothing about it, because of his wife’s being there.
因为他妻子在那儿,我对此事一字未提。
He knew she was crying because of what he had said.
他知道她哭是因为他所说的话。
注:请注意下列正误句子:
正:He cannot go to school because of sickness. / He cannot go to school because he is sick. 他因病不能上学。
误:He cannot go to school because of (that) he is sick.
2. 由because of 构成的介词短语一般只用作状语,而不用作表语。作表语时可用due to。如:
误:Tom’s absence was because of the rain.
正:Tom’s absence was due to the rain. 汤姆因下雨不能到场。
注:在阅读中有时也可见到because of 短语用作表语,但值得注意的是,此时句子的主语通常中代词而不是名词。如:
It is because of hard work. 那是因为劳累的原因。
That will be because of money. 那将是因为金钱的缘故。