France was not due another election for three more years

[Maybo]

France was not due another election for three more years, and it had far better ways of spending the summer than going through an abbreviated and intense election campaign.

Source: Far right hopes to make history as France votes in high-stakes poll By Paul Kirby, BBC News

I don't understand the underlined part's structure. Is it a set structure? ... due + noun?

 

[emsr2d2]

I wouldn't call it a "set structure" but it's grammatically correct.

I'm due a dental checkup in three months.
Iceland is due a volcanic eruption any time now.

 

[tedmc]

Perhaps the "for" after "due" has been omitted.

 

[emsr2d2]

Perhaps the "for" after "due" has been omitted.

Nothing has been omitted. As I said in post #2, it's grammatically correct.

 

[Maybo]

I feel like “due” means “ready for”.

 

[emsr2d2]

I feel like “due” means “ready for”.

It doesn't. It refers to an expected schedule. France usually holds a general election every five years. Based on that usual schedule, they were not due an election until 2027. However, Macron chose to call a surprise election three years earlier than he had to.

 

[tedmc]

Here's what I got from AI when I asked whether there should be a "for" after "due":


Yes, you're right. It is more natural to include "for" after "due" in these contexts. Here are the corrected sentences:

1. I'm due for a dental checkup in three months.
2. Iceland is due for a volcanic eruption any time now.

Including "for" makes the sentences grammatically correct and more natural.

 

[5jj]

Yes, you're right. It is more natural to include "for" after "due" in these contexts.

It's more common; it isn't more natural.