Talking about Responsibility in English

Talking About Responsibility in English (Vocabulary, Meanings & Useful Expressions)

Hello, English learners! 👋 Welcome to a new lesson.

When talking about responsibility, duty, and accountability in English, it’s important to choose vocabulary that clearly shows obligation, commitment, and ownership of actions. These words are especially useful for formal writing, workplace English, discussions, and Cambridge exams.

In this lesson, you’ll learn key nouns, verbs, and expressions used to talk about responsibility in clear, natural English.

Key Vocabulary for Responsibility

Responsibility

Meaning: the state of having a duty to deal with something or being in control of someone or something. It involves accepting the consequences of your actions or decisions.

• It is our responsibility to protect the environment.
• Parents have a responsibility to care for their children’s well-being.
• Peter took on the responsibility of organising the event.

Duty

Meaning: a moral or legal obligation; something you are required to do.

• It is the duty of every citizen to vote.
• As a doctor, her duty is to provide the best possible care.

Accountability

Meaning: being answerable for actions, decisions, and their results.

• The manager has accountability for the team’s performance.
• She accepted full accountability for the project’s failure.

Tip:

Responsibility = having a task

Accountability = being answerable for the outcome

Obligation

Meaning: a strong requirement to do something, often based on moral, legal, or social rules.

• The organisation has an obligation to use donations responsibly.
• Teachers have an obligation to treat students fairly.

Commitment

Meaning: a strong promise or determination to do something, even when it is difficult.

• She showed great commitment by working overtime.
• John made a commitment to volunteer every weekend.

Liability

Meaning: legal responsibility for damage, loss, or harm.

• The company accepts liability for faulty products.
• The insurance covers personal and property liability.

Be in charge (of)

Meaning: to have responsibility for managing or controlling something.

• Robert is in charge of the new project.
• Sean was in charge of organising community events.

Role

Meaning: the position or function someone has in a situation or organisation.

• Fiona embraced her role as a mentor.
• A teacher’s role is to educate and inspire students.

Duty-bound

Meaning: morally or legally obliged to do something.

• The soldier was duty-bound to follow orders.
• He felt duty-bound to report the incident.

Task

Meaning: a specific piece of work that needs to be done.

• Her task was to organise the event logistics.
• Household tasks were shared among the family.

Useful Expressions for Talking About Responsibility

Take responsibility for

→ accept blame or control

• He took responsibility for the mistake.

Fulfil one’s duty

→ do what is expected

• The firefighters fulfilled their duty bravely.

Be held accountable

→ be required to explain actions

• Managers should be held accountable for results.

Owe a duty to

→ have an obligation towards someone

• Public officials owe a duty to the community.

Commit to

→ promise to do something seriously

• She committed to volunteering every weekend.

Carry out a task

→ perform a duty

• He was asked to carry out the task carefully.

Shoulder the responsibility

→ accept a heavy responsibility

• She shouldered the responsibility of leading the team.

Be duty-bound to

→ be morally or legally required

• Teachers are duty-bound to protect students.

Take on a role

→ accept a position or function

• He took on the role of team leader.

Be liable for

→ be legally responsible

• The landlord is liable for building safety.

Final tip for learners

When writing essays, reports, or speaking in formal situations, try to vary your vocabulary:

• Use responsibility / accountability instead of repeating job
• Use duty / obligation to sound more formal
• Use commitment to show long-term effort

Mastering this vocabulary will make your English sound precise, professional, and advanced — exactly what examiners look for.

Learn how to write a B2 First essay here

Learn how to show reference in English here

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