SC : astronomical phenomena

[herogmat]

It seems likely that a number of astronomical phenomena, such as the formation of planetary nebulas, may be caused by the interaction where two stars orbit each other at close range.
A. may be caused by the interaction where two stars orbit each other
B. may be caused by the interaction between two stars that each orbit the other
C. are because of the interaction between two stars that orbit each other
D. are caused by the interaction of two stars where each is orbiting the other
E. are caused by the interaction of two stars orbiting each other

How to decide between choice C and E? Is there any rule for selecting between 'because of' and 'caused by'?

-hg

[ctrajaram]

A number of plural so "are" is ok

phenomena caused by is better than phenomena because of

Also "interaction of " two stars is idiomatic

Hence E

[ashish.jere]

The idiom is between x and y. You don't see that in (C).

[RonPurewal]

How to decide between choice C and E? Is there any rule for selecting between 'because of' and 'caused by'?

yep.

"because of" can't follow a form of "to be". it has to follow a normal verb.
today's delay is because of the rain --> incorrect
the train was delayed because of the rain --> ok
the only EXCEPTION of which i'm aware is the idiomatic form "IT IS because of X that Y VERB". for instance, it is only because of luck that Jim survived the crash.

so, (c) is out, because you can't say "X are because of Y".

--

@ ashish

The idiom is between x and y

that is indeed a correct idiom, but it is certainly also correct to write "between two X's".
the distance between any two of the markers is exactly one mile. --> correct sentence

[herogmat]

Thanks Ron for your explanation.
-hg

[chuckberry007]

Hi,

Why A and B are wrong? because is unidiomatic?

Thanks

[herogmat]

in a and b , 'may be' is unnecessary . please watch 'seems likely' at the begining of the sentence.

[selva.e]

Agreed! herogmat

"may be" and "seems like" represents same meaning.

C - distorts the meaning. ' that' is pointing to interaction - which changes the meaning.

D - 'where' should always be used to represent location, place.

So E wins

[RonPurewal]

in a and b , 'may be' is unnecessary . please watch 'seems likely' at the begining of the sentence.

yes. the construction is REDUNDANT if you include both "likely" and "may". you can only have one of those.

same problem as "answer back" or "continue onward" or "added bonus" or "free gift" or...

--

there is a rather lengthy treatment of choice (c) in my post above.

--

D - 'where' should always be used to represent location, place.

perfect.

[NIKESH_PAHUJA]

Ron, Thanks for great explanation.

I was wondering , if C would have read

C. are caused by the interaction between two stars that orbit each other


Would it have been correct ? ( i mean , then the idiom issue wud have been secondary
?)

[RonPurewal]

Ron, Thanks for great explanation.

I was wondering , if C would have read

C. are caused by the interaction between two stars that orbit each other


Would it have been correct ? ( i mean , then the idiom issue wud have been secondary
?)

this seems fine to me.

"interaction between" MIGHT be regarded as redundant (vs. "interaction of", as in the correct option).
there's not enough evidence to make a conclusive judgment on this issue, though, because all of the choices containing "interaction between" are also wrong for other reasons.

[apoorva_srivastva]

yep.

"because of" can't follow a form of "to be". it has to follow a normal verb.
today's delay is because of the rain --> incorrect
the train was delayed because of the rain --> ok
the only EXCEPTION of which i'm aware is the idiomatic form "IT IS because of X that Y VERB". for instance, it is only because of luck that Jim survived the crash.

so, (c) is out, because you can't say "X are because of Y".

--

I had few queries and hence had to restart this thread.....

Hi Ron...When u say "to be" form of the verb...as per my understanding it includes "is","am","were","was","being","be"

so how is the expamle .....the train was delayed because of the rain --> correct!!

or is it the case that a verb phrase "was delayed" makes the sentence correct!!!

Kindly point out my mistake!!

[RonPurewal]

I had few queries and hence had to restart this thread.....

Hi Ron...When u say "to be" form of the verb...as per my understanding it includes "is","am","were","was","being","be"

so how is the expamle .....the train was delayed because of the rain --> correct!!

or is it the case that a verb phrase "was delayed" makes the sentence correct!!!

Kindly point out my mistake!!

no, that's not what i was saying. "was delayed" is not a form of "to be".

what i meant was that you can't precede "because" with a verb that is SOLELY a form of "to be" (not "to be" + passive-voice construction, such as the example you gave).

so,
"...was because of..." is automatically wrong
"...was delayed because of..." is ok.

[purduesr]

"because of" can't follow a form of "to be". it has to follow a normal verb.

What if 'because of' follows relative pronouns such as that, which, etc..?

i.e. which because of, that because of

[tankobe]

"because of" can't follow a form of "to be". it has to follow a normal verb.

What if 'because of' follows relative pronouns such as that, which, etc..?

the same question, i am not sure which one can be right?
1# it is because of ...
2# it is because of ...that....
3# it is because ....
4# it is because ....that....
5# it is why.....
6# that is why....