Language Research Assignment

Report of Research on the Use of the Verb Be Responsible with prepositions for and to.

1. The information from the Random House Dictionary

The verb be responsible can be followed by the prepositions for and to. The preposition for is used to identify the person who is 1) Answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management. 2) Chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something. E.g. Termites were responsible for the damage.

The preposition to is used to show a promise or assurance, esp. one in writing, that something is of specified quality, content, benefit, et., or that it will perform satisfactorily for a given length of time.

Here is the explanation and examples from the Oxford dictionary. The preposition for is used to show an obligation to do something, or having control over or care for someone, as part of one's job or role, involving important duties, independent decision-making, or control over others and being the primary cause of something and so able to be blamed or credited for it. E.g. The gene was responsible for a rare type of eye cancer. While the preposition to is used to report to (a superior or someone in authority) and be answerable to them for one's actions. E.g. The team manager is responsible to the league president.

2. Here are some examples provided by COCA:

­- They should be responsible for those wounded and dead.

- Otherwise they will be responsible for the consequences, and consequences of any chaos.

Both of these examples do not show that “they” are the cause of the wounded or consequences but they are accountable.

- And while we're at it, we can also be responsible to nature and society.

- It's time to be responsible to America, to care about what you promote and not to only look for sensationalism.

These examples clearly clarify the differences between usage of prepositions for and to. The preposition for is used as the primary cause of something, while the preposition to is mostly used to show responsibilities.

3. And here are the titles of articles from Google.

- BP oil spill may be responsible for dolphin deaths. This shows cause.

- Feet First? Old Mitochondria Might Be Responsible for Neuropathy in the Extremities. This also shows cause.

- How to Be Responsible

- Science Must Be Responsible to Society, Not to Politics

These examples from Google also show precise different between usage of prepositions for and to, where for is used as a cause of something (death, Neuropathy), while to is used to note responsibility. Both involve responsibility.

So, according to the research made in 3 different sources I’ve done following conclusions:

1)

To be responsible to the people = you will act responsibly to the people. This means the people are the authority.

To be responsible for the people = they (people) are in your care and you must protect them.

2)

To be "responsible to the people" means that one owes a duty or obligation to the people. E.g. I am responsible to my employer to do the best job I can.

To be "responsible for the people" means that one has a responsibility to act in the people's best interests. E.g. As a crossing guard at a school I am responsible for the children who rely on me to get them across the street safely.