Cool MateObligation vs Where's her sense of responsibility
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Obligation
Where's her sense of responsibility
| Obligation | Where's her sense of responsibility | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɑːblɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wɛrz hɜːr sɛns əv rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlɪti//🇺🇸 //wɛrz hɜr sɛns əv rɪˌspɑnsəˈbɪlɪti// |
| Meaning | Something you must do; a duty or responsibility. | What happened to her duty to take care of her tasks? |
| Example | She felt a strong obligation to help her friends in need. | Where's her sense of responsibility when it comes to her work? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | contractual, legal, statutory, carry out, discharge, fulfil/fulfill, arise from something, under an obligation, without obligation, obligation of, contractual, legal, statutory, carry out, discharge, fulfil/fulfill, arise from something, under an obligation, without obligation, obligation of | sense of duty, sense of obligation, lack of responsibility, show responsibility, take responsibility |
| Antonyms | freedom, option, choice | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'obligated' — remember 'obligation' is the noun., Using 'obligation' with incorrect prepositions — typically used with 'to' (e.g., obligation to pay)., Overusing in casual speech — more common in formal contexts. | Misunderstanding the context; may use it in unrelated situations., Confusing with other phrases about responsibility, like 'What about her duties?' |
| Usage notes | Use 'obligation' in both formal and informal contexts when discussing responsibilities or duties. It's appropriate in legal, academic, or personal situations but less common in casual conversations. | Use in contexts discussing accountability or care. It may come across as accusatory, so consider tone and situation. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Obligation vs Where's her sense of responsibility
What's the difference between Obligation and Where's her sense of responsibility?
Obligation: Something you must do; a duty or responsibility. Where's her sense of responsibility: What happened to her duty to take care of her tasks?
Which is more common: Obligation and Where's her sense of responsibility?
Obligation is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Obligation: She felt a strong obligation to help her friends in need. Where's her sense of responsibility: Where's her sense of responsibility when it comes to her work?
Can I use Obligation and Where's her sense of responsibility interchangeably?
Not always. Obligation and Where's her sense of responsibility 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.