”Unfortunately, I cannot attend the meeting due to a previous engagement.”
これも立派な英文ですが、無生物を主語にして書くと、
→Unfortunately, a previous engagement does not permit me to attend the meeting. →I regret to tell you that an earlier commitment prevents me from attending the meeting. →To my regret, I have to say that my fixed schedules do not allow me to attend the meeting.
“Owing to higher production costs, we have to raise our prices by eight percent starting with March shipment.”
無生物主語で書くと、
→Higher production costs make it necessary to increase our prices by eight percent starting with March shipment. →Increased production costs compel us to raise our prices by eight percent starting with March shipment.