Dependent Prepositions — Adjectives: Responsibility & Capability (C1)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

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Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

The newly appointed regional manager is responsible all customer-relations operations from Glasgow southwards. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

"Responsible for" introduces the area, task or person you are in charge of. Dominant L1-transfer error is "of" (calqued from many Romance/Slavic languages).

Modern lithium-ion cells are now capable holding their charge for several weeks of inactive use. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

"Capable of (sth / doing)" is fixed. The classic learner error is "to" by analogy with "able to" — but "capable" always takes "of" + noun or gerund, never an infinitive.

In the new governance model, every divisional head is directly accountable the chief executive rather than the regional board. (preposition)

Correct answer: to

When the complement is the person or body that holds you to account, the preposition is "to". "Accountable to" (the person) pairs with "accountable for" (the action). Mixing them up is the core C1 error.

The internal review concluded that no single individual could reasonably be held accountable the systemic failures uncovered by the audit. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

When the complement is the action or outcome being answered for, the preposition is "for". Compare with Q3: accountable TO + person, accountable FOR + action.

The early prototype was simply incapable withstanding the temperatures encountered during atmospheric re-entry. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

"Incapable of (doing)" mirrors "capable of". The negative prefix does not change the preposition. Learners sometimes default to "to" by interference from "unable to", but adjectives ending in "-capable" always take "of".

During the chief inspector's unexpected absence, the deputy was placed in charge the entire investigation. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

"In charge of" is a fixed phrase. Note the contrast with the inverse construction "in the charge of someone", which means "under their care" — opposite responsibility.

Under the terms of the lease, the tenant remains liable any structural damage caused during the period of occupation. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

"Liable for" = legally responsible for (a cost, damage, debt). Pairs with "responsible for" but is more formal and legal in register.

The valley floor is particularly liable flash flooding during the early-summer thaw, sometimes with very little warning. (preposition)

Correct answer: to

"Liable to (sth / do sth)" = susceptible to / prone to. Compare with Q7: liable FOR a cost (legal), liable TO a problem (vulnerable). The FOR/TO discrimination for "liable" is a classic C1 testing point.

After three weeks of deliberation, the jury found the former chief financial officer guilty embezzling more than two million pounds. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

"Guilty of (sth / doing)" mirrors "accuse of" and "convict of" — all crime-related adjectives and verbs take "of". "For" is the dominant L1-transfer error by analogy with "responsible for".

The newly formed regulator will be answerable Parliament alone and not to any individual government department. (preposition)

Correct answer: to

"Answerable to (someone)" = obliged to justify your actions to that person. Same to/for split as "accountable": TO a person, FOR an action. Here the complement is the body that requires the justification.

It would be quite unfair to suggest that any single supplier was to blame the breakdown of the supply chain last winter. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

"To blame for" is a fixed adjectival phrase. The pattern matches the verb "blame sb for sth". "Of" is the most common error by analogy with "guilty of" — but with "blame", the preposition is always "for".

Although the project lead manages the day-to-day work, she is ultimately responsible the senior partner who commissioned the engagement. (preposition)

Correct answer: to

"Responsible to" (a person) = answerable to that person; less common than "responsible for" and more formal. Same split as accountable / answerable: TO a person, FOR a task. The cue is "who commissioned" — the complement is the authority figure.

Few of his closest colleagues had ever believed the negotiator was capable such a calculated and sustained piece of deception. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

"Capable of" extends naturally to negative or extreme behaviours, where it carries the sense "willing or able to do something surprising". Preposition does not change — always "of" + noun/gerund.

No senior figure within the department was ultimately held accountable the data breach that compromised thousands of records. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

The fixed pattern "be held accountable for + outcome" reinforces the FOR-for-actions rule established in Q4. Common error is "of" (cf. "guilty of") — but "accountable" never takes "of".

For the duration of the school trip, the children remain in the charge two qualified teachers and one trained first-aider. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

The phrase here is "in the charge of (sb)" = under their care/supervision. This is structurally the opposite of "in charge of" (= in authority over): the children are NOT in command of the teachers, they are under their care. The fixed preposition is still "of" — both senses use "of".

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

The newly appointed regional manager is responsible all customer-relations operations from Glasgow southwards. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

"Responsible for" introduces the area, task or person you are in charge of. Dominant L1-transfer error is "of" (calqued from many Romance/Slavic languages).

Modern lithium-ion cells are now capable holding their charge for several weeks of inactive use. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

"Capable of (sth / doing)" is fixed. The classic learner error is "to" by analogy with "able to" — but "capable" always takes "of" + noun or gerund, never an infinitive.

In the new governance model, every divisional head is directly accountable the chief executive rather than the regional board. (preposition)

Correct answer: to

The internal review concluded that no single individual could reasonably be held accountable the systemic failures uncovered by the audit. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

When the complement is the action or outcome being answered for, the preposition is "for". Compare with Q3: accountable TO + person, accountable FOR + action.

The early prototype was simply incapable withstanding the temperatures encountered during atmospheric re-entry. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

During the chief inspector's unexpected absence, the deputy was placed in charge the entire investigation. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

"In charge of" is a fixed phrase. Note the contrast with the inverse construction "in the charge of someone", which means "under their care" — opposite responsibility.

Under the terms of the lease, the tenant remains liable any structural damage caused during the period of occupation. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

"Liable for" = legally responsible for (a cost, damage, debt). Pairs with "responsible for" but is more formal and legal in register.

The valley floor is particularly liable flash flooding during the early-summer thaw, sometimes with very little warning. (preposition)

Correct answer: to

After three weeks of deliberation, the jury found the former chief financial officer guilty embezzling more than two million pounds. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

"Guilty of (sth / doing)" mirrors "accuse of" and "convict of" — all crime-related adjectives and verbs take "of". "For" is the dominant L1-transfer error by analogy with "responsible for".

The newly formed regulator will be answerable Parliament alone and not to any individual government department. (preposition)

Correct answer: to

It would be quite unfair to suggest that any single supplier was to blame the breakdown of the supply chain last winter. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

Although the project lead manages the day-to-day work, she is ultimately responsible the senior partner who commissioned the engagement. (preposition)

Correct answer: to

Few of his closest colleagues had ever believed the negotiator was capable such a calculated and sustained piece of deception. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

"Capable of" extends naturally to negative or extreme behaviours, where it carries the sense "willing or able to do something surprising". Preposition does not change — always "of" + noun/gerund.

No senior figure within the department was ultimately held accountable the data breach that compromised thousands of records. (preposition)

Correct answer: for

The fixed pattern "be held accountable for + outcome" reinforces the FOR-for-actions rule established in Q4. Common error is "of" (cf. "guilty of") — but "accountable" never takes "of".

For the duration of the school trip, the children remain in the charge two qualified teachers and one trained first-aider. (preposition)

Correct answer: of

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.