The use of "before"

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Is it possible to use "before" in my sentence?

"I have responsibly before my family." Do you use "for"/to"?

 

[tzfujimino]

"I have responsibly before my family."

Are you sure about that?
:?:

 

[GoesStation]

The sentence isn't natural even with the noun you were looking for. A small rewrite would fix it. Care to give it a try?

 

[Rachel Adams]

The sentence isn't natural even with the noun you were looking for. A small rewrite would fix it. Care to give it a try?

"I am responsible for my family" but is the meaning the same?

 

[GoesStation]

"I am responsible for my family". But is the meaning the same?

The sentence isn't natural with the noun you were looking for, so it's hard to say whether there's a minor difference in meaning.

 

[Rachel Adams]

The sentence isn't natural with the noun you were looking for, so it's hard to say whether there's a minor difference in meaning.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/responsibility
[ U ] "Parents must assume responsibility for their children."

I found it used with "for" here so I thought I could use it in my sentence.

 

[teechar]

I found it used with "for" here so I thought I could use it in my sentence.

But you used "before". Your sentence doesn't work as it stands.

 

[Rachel Adams]

But you used "before". Your sentence doesn't work as it stands.

But with "for", does it work? "I have responsibilities for my family."

 

[teechar]

No. Use "towards" in that sentence.
I have responsibility towards my family.

 

[GoesStation]

No. Use "towards" in that sentence.
I have responsibility towards my family.

That also doesn't sound natural to me.

 

[Rachel Adams]

That also doesn't sound natural to me.

Then maybe "for" works?

 

[emsr2d2]

"for" works for me.

I am responsible for my family.
I have responsibility for my family.

 

[teechar]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with "responsibility towards". For example:
https://www.lexico.com/definition/responsibility
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/responsibility
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/publishers
https://fraze.it/n_search.jsp?q="responsibility+towards"&l=0

But of course, it doesn't mean the same as "responsibility for".

 

[teechar]

I'll just add one thing. I should have written "I have a responsibility towards my family".

 

[Rachel Adams]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with "responsibility towards". For example:
https://www.lexico.com/definition/responsibility
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/responsibility
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/publishers
https://fraze.it/n_search.jsp?q="responsibility+towards"&l=0

But of course, it doesn't mean the same as "responsibility for".

What is the difference?

 

[teechar]

I have a responsibility towards = I have an obligation towards.
For example:
"I have a responsibility towards my family" can mean that I have to provide for them.

I am responsible for = I am accountable for
For example:
"I am responsible for the error in this month's statement" means I am the one who should be held accountable for that error.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I have a responsibility towards = I have an obligation towards.
For example:
"I have a responsibility towards my family" can mean that I have to provide for them.

I am responsible for = I am accountable for
For example:
"I am responsible for the error in this month's statement" means I am the one who should be held accountable for that error.

Then it is better not to use "I am responsible for my family." However, if I am talking about several responsibilities, then "I have responsibilities towards my family" in my humble opinion is correct.

 

[teechar]

Then it is better not to use "I am responsible for my family."

It depends on the context.
For example:
"Let's get one thing straight. I am responsible for my family, and you're responsible for yours".

However, if I am talking about several responsibilities, then "I have responsibilities towards my family" in my humble opinion is correct.

Yes, it can work. You might even want to add "several" before "responsibilities".