Pronunciation: [wɜː djˈuː tuː] (IPA) 
The phrase "were due to" is commonly used in English to describe the reason or cause of something. It is pronounced /wɜːr/ /djuː/ /tuː/ and is spelled with the past tense form of "be" and "due to," which means caused by or as a result of. The pronunciation of "were" is characterized by the long vowel "ɜːr," while the following word, "due," is pronounced as "djuː," with a short vowel "uː" sound followed by a diphthong "ju."
"were due to" is a phrase used to express the cause or reason behind a particular event, outcome, or situation. It is essentially a time-based verb construction that refers to something that was expected or scheduled to happen or occur.
The term "were" indicates the past tense of the verb "to be," which implies that the event or outcome being referred to has already transpired. "Due to," on the other hand, signifies that the cause or reason for the event, outcome, or situation lies in a specific factor or circumstance.
For instance, if someone says, "The cancellation of the concert was due to bad weather," it means that the reason for the concert being canceled was the adverse weather conditions that occurred on the scheduled day. Similarly, if someone says, "The delay in the flight departure was due to maintenance issues," it means that the underlying cause of the flight departure being postponed was problems pertaining to the aircraft's maintenance.
In summary, "were due to" serves as a way to attribute or explain the cause or reason behind a certain event, outcome, or situation that has already taken place. It indicates the past tense of the verb "to be," and emphasizes that the cause lies in a specific factor or circumstance.
