responsible for
Adjective Phrase 1. Being the agent or cause: Used to indicate the person, thing, or factor that is the primary cause of an action, event, or situation, or that has the duty to manage or care for something. * The manager is responsible for the entire department. * Heavy rains were responsible for the flooding.
The phrase "responsible for" connects a subject (the responsible agent) to an object (the thing caused or managed). It functions adjectivally to describe the subject's role.
Common Patterns: * Person/Entity + [be verb] + responsible for + Noun/Noun Phrase: Identifies who has a duty or obligation. * Parents are responsible for their children's safety. * Thing/Factor + [be verb] + responsible for + Noun/Noun Phrase: Identifies the cause. * A virus was responsible for the system failure. * Person/Entity + [be verb] + responsible for + Gerund (-ing form): Describes an ongoing duty or a specific past action. * She is responsible for training new staff. (duty) * He was responsible for breaking the window. (past cause)
- The driver was held responsible for the accident.
- This committee is responsible for organizing the annual conference.
- Smoking is responsible for many serious health problems.
- Who will be responsible for locking up the office tonight?
- Directly responsible for: Emphasizes a clear, unambiguous causal link or chain of command.
- The investigation found the contractor directly responsible for the structural flaw.
- Ultimately responsible for: Indicates the final or highest level of accountability.
- The CEO is ultimately responsible for the company's performance.
- Responsibility (n): The state or fact of having a duty or of being the cause.
- It is your responsibility to finish the report.
- Responsibly (adv): In a sensible or accountable manner.
- He always acts responsibly.
- Accountable for: Answerable for actions or decisions.
- In charge of: Having control or authority over.
- The cause of: That which produces an effect (used more for things/factors than people).
- Hold someone responsible for: To consider someone accountable and subject to consequences.
- The law will hold them responsible for their actions.
- Take responsibility for: To accept the duty or admit being the cause.
- He took responsibility for the mistake and apologized.
- being the agent or cause
- determined who was the responsible party
- termites were responsible for the damage