Cool MateBlame vs Charge
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Blame
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Charge
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
| Blame | Charge | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bleɪm/","/bleɪmz/","/bleɪmd/","/ˈbleɪmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bleɪm/","/bleɪmz/","/bleɪmd/","/ˈbleɪmɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃɑːrdʒ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To say someone is responsible for something bad. | To request payment for something. |
| Example | It's easy to blame others when things go wrong. | I need to charge my phone because the battery is low. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Collocations | unfairly, unjustly, partly, can’t, don’t, can hardly, for, on, be to blame (for something), be widely blamed for something | heavy, high, nominal, impose, introduce, levy, at a charge, for a charge, charge for, free of charge, overall, personal, sole, have, take, place somebody in, in charge (of somebody/something), in somebody’s charge, under somebody’s charge, grave, heavy, serious, bring, file, lay, allege something, sheet, on a/the charge, without charge, charge against, bring charges (against somebody), prefer charges (against somebody), press charges (against somebody), grave, heavy, serious, bring, file, lay, allege something, sheet, on a/the charge, without charge, charge against, bring charges (against somebody), prefer charges (against somebody), press charges (against somebody), baton, cavalry, lead |
| Antonyms | praise, commend, exonerate | credit, refund |
| Common mistakes | 'Blame' can be used without an object, but it's clearer with one (e.g., 'She blames him')., Confused with 'accuse' - 'blaming' doesn’t always imply wrongdoing, while 'accusing' does., Some learners forget to use the preposition 'for' after 'blame' when stating the cause. | Confused with 'charges' when referring to multiple items., Using 'charge' as a noun incorrectly in casual conversations instead of using 'billing'., Mistaking 'charge' for 'change' in payment contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'blame' when pointing to responsibility, often in a negative context. Avoid in overly formal situations; 'attribute' might be better there. | Used in contexts related to billing or pricing services. Can be formal in business and informal when referring to casual payments between friends. Avoid in situations where a more specific term is appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Blame vs Charge
What's the difference between Blame and Charge?
Blame: To say someone is responsible for something bad. Charge: To request payment for something.
Which is more advanced: Blame and Charge?
Blame is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Blame and Charge the same CEFR level?
Blame: B2, Charge: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Blame and Charge?
Blame: verb, Charge: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Blame: It's easy to blame others when things go wrong. Charge: I need to charge my phone because the battery is low.
Can I use Blame and Charge interchangeably?
Not always. Blame and Charge are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.