Responsible vs The boy looks guilty
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Responsible
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
The boy looks guilty
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Responsible | The boy looks guilty | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈspɒnsəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈspɑːnsəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðə bɔɪ lʊks ˈɡɪlti//🇺🇸 //ðə bɔɪ lʊks ˈɡɪlti// |
| Meaning | To be someone who can be trusted to do what is right or take care of something. | The boy seems like he has done something wrong. |
| Example | She is very responsible when it comes to her job. | After breaking the vase, the boy looks guilty. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, become, remain, completely, entirely, fully, for, be, feel, seem, completely, entirely, fully, for, be, feel, seem, completely, entirely, fully, for, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, with, be, become, remain, completely, entirely, fully, for, be, directly, ultimately, to | looks guilty, guilty expression, guilty plea |
| Antonyms | irresponsible, careless, negligent | innocent, blameless |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'responsible' with 'responsive', Using 'responsible' without 'for' when describing duties, Incorrectly spelling 'responsible' as 'responsable' | Confused with 'looks' vs 'looked', Using 'the boy look' instead of 'the boy looks', Mixing up 'guilty' with 'guilt' |
| Usage notes | Used to describe someone dependable or accountable. Appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, though overly formal in casual conversations. | Use in general observational contexts. Avoid in formal writing or discussions where you need absolute certainty. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Responsible vs The boy looks guilty
What's the difference between Responsible and The boy looks guilty?
Responsible: To be someone who can be trusted to do what is right or take care of something. The boy looks guilty: The boy seems like he has done something wrong.
Can you show an example of each?
Responsible: She is very responsible when it comes to her job. The boy looks guilty: After breaking the vase, the boy looks guilty.
Can I use Responsible and The boy looks guilty interchangeably?
Not always. Responsible and The boy looks guilty 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.