Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will be raised again in November.

A. because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will
B. with the economy’s strength continuing, analysts predicted for weeks that the target
C. because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would
D. due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target
E. due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will[/quote]

Thanks Harley1980, LogicGuru1, AbdurRakib.

I understand becuase modifies verb "have been predicting" in option A.

why is it awkward to say "due to the economy’s continued strength" . pls advise
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Hello smartguy595

If we take the same example:
"analysts have been predicting [something] because of the economy’s continued strength"
and change it on caused by:

"analysts have been predicting ... caused by of the economy’s continued strength"

Does it sound for you correct?
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daagh
Why did u consider that the prediction is still going on, maybe the analysts predicted for weeks but later got tired and stopped predicting as in 'C'
in C past tense "predicted" with conditional "would" is right that way?

I understand why B, C, D, E are wrong, but in A 'because' should modify a very isn't it ? "economy’s continued strength" is a noun right ?
Please explain.

Is there no due to v. because of split? Which one would be more relevant for this ques?

So in the option A "the economy's continued strength" is a noun phrase and is its usage correct with the phrase "becuase of". As becuase only modifies action

Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will be raised again in November.


(A) because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will

(B) with the economy’s strength continuing, analysts predicted for weeks that the target

(C) because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would

(D) due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target

(E) due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will

Method of Elimination:

Due to vs because of : replace due to with caused by and see if the sentence still makes sense. caused by the economy`s continued strength analysts. Does make sense. Same with E. Eliminate D and E.

Split 2 : Predicted/have been predicting. predicted for weeks cannot be right. The non-underlined part of the sentence indicated the present perfect tense that the banks have been reducing short term interest since feb and they continue to do so. Predicted on the other hand is past tense verb that indicates that the event happened sometime in the past and is no longer in effect in the present. This is not the intended meaning as it indicates an action that has been happening for a time period that continued for weeks. Eliminate B and C. Correct answer A.
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