Question

Find the correct preposition: He is responsible ____ the project’s success.

• A. For
• B. In
• C. With
• D. At

Hint:

To master "responsible":
- Use "responsible for" to show accountability: "responsible for the outcome."
- Avoid incorrect prepositions like "in," "with," or "at" with "responsible" in this context.
- Practice: "She’s responsible for the team," "He’s responsible for the error."

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine the correct preposition for the sentence "He is responsible \_\_\_\_ the project’s success," we need to identify the preposition that correctly pairs with the adjective "responsible" in this context.
This question tests your knowledge of adjective-preposition collocations and the meaning of "responsible" in English.
Step 1: Understand the Adjective "Responsible"
The adjective "responsible" means being the cause of something or having the duty to take care of it.
When "responsible" is used to indicate what someone is accountable for, it is typically followed by a preposition.
Here, "the project’s success" is the outcome or duty he is accountable for, so we need the correct preposition to pair with "responsible."
Step 2: Analyze Option A - "For"
Option A suggests the preposition "for," making the sentence: "He is responsible for the project’s success."
The collocation "responsible for" is standard in English when indicating what someone is accountable for or the cause of.
For example:
- "She is responsible for the team’s performance." (She has the duty to ensure the team’s performance.)
- "He is responsible for the accident." (He caused the accident.)
In this case, "the project’s success" is the outcome he is accountable for, so "responsible for the project’s success" is correct and natural.
Option A seems correct, but let’s check the other options.
Step 3: Analyze Option B - "In"
Option B suggests the preposition "in," making the sentence: "He is responsible in the project’s success."
The preposition "in" often indicates involvement or location (e.g., "involved in the project").
However, "responsible in" is not a standard collocation.
Saying "responsible in the project’s success" implies he is responsible while inside the success, which is not meaningful.
For example, "He is responsible in the outcome" sounds incorrect.
Therefore, option B is incorrect.
Step 4: Analyze Option C - "With"
Option C suggests the preposition "with," making the sentence: "He is responsible with the project’s success."
The preposition "with" often indicates association or means (e.g., "careful with money").
However, "responsible with" is not correct in this context.
Saying "responsible with the project’s success" does not convey the intended meaning and is grammatically incorrect.
For example, "He is responsible with the outcome" sounds unnatural.
Therefore, option C is incorrect.
Step 5: Analyze Option D - "At"
Option D suggests the preposition "at," making the sentence: "He is responsible at the project’s success."
The preposition "at" indicates a point or location (e.g., "good at sports").
However, "responsible at" is not a standard collocation.
Saying "responsible at the project’s success" is incorrect and does not make sense.
For example, "He is responsible at the result" is not a valid construction.
Therefore, option D is incorrect.
Step 6: Confirm with Grammar Rules
The adjective "responsible" is typically followed by "for" when indicating what someone is accountable for:
- "They are responsible for the event’s success."
- "She is responsible for paying the bills."
This usage is consistent in English, confirming that option A, "for," is the correct answer.
Step 7: Why the Other Options Are Incorrect - A Broader Perspective
- Option B ("In"): "In" might be used in phrases like "involved in the success," but not with "responsible."
- Option C ("With"): "With" pairs with adjectives like "good with" (e.g., "good with kids"), but not "responsible."
- Option D ("At"): "At" is used with adjectives like "good at," but not "responsible."
Step 8: Key Concepts
- Adjective-Preposition Collocations: "Responsible for" is used to indicate accountability or causation.
- Meaning of "Responsible": It can mean both causing something and having a duty for something, and "for" works in both cases.
- Practice: "I’m responsible for the report," "He’s responsible for the delay."