To be responsible for something means that it is your job or duty, or that you caused it, usually something bad. The first meaning is common in job descriptions: responsible for sales. The second is more typical of news and reports: the storm was responsible for the delays.
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be responsible for + noun/-ing; hold someone responsible for + noun; be responsible to + person in charge
- In my new job, I'm responsible for training interns and checking their reports.
- A broken cable was responsible for the power cut in our building last night.
- Who is responsible for booking the hotel for our trip to Porto?
What changed
First versionAt work, I'm responsible to organise weekly meetings for the whole team.
RevisionAt work, I'm responsible for organising weekly meetings for the whole team.
It is tempting to add to + verb after responsible, as after ready or able. But responsible takes the preposition for, and a verb after a preposition takes the -ing form: for organising.
Responsible to + person means that you report to someone who is in charge of you: She is responsible to the head of department. Before a noun, responsible describes character: a responsible student is reliable and can be trusted.
Your turn
In our shared flat, I'm responsible for ___ the bins out every Tuesday evening.
Show the answer
taking — After the preposition for, a verb takes the -ing form, so taking is correct. The bare form take is not used after a preposition.
Describe your duties at work, in your studies or at home. Name two things you are responsible for, and express at least one of them with an -ing verb.
At home, I'm responsible for cooking dinner on weekdays and paying all the bills.
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