can be responsible vs could be responsible

Both 'can be responsible' and 'could be responsible' are correct and commonly used in English. 'Can be responsible' implies a general ability or possibility, while 'could be responsible' suggests a more tentative or hypothetical situation. The choice between them depends on the context and the level of certainty or possibility the speaker wants to convey.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 1059 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"can be responsible"

This phrase is used to indicate the general ability or possibility of someone being responsible for something.

Examples:

The new evidence suggests that he can be responsible for the crime.
In this situation, anyone can be responsible for the mistake.
She can be responsible for the success of the project.

Show examples from the web [+]

Bacteria can be responsible for 60-70% of clinical episodes of AOM.
This indicates that not only speeding, but the quality of road infrastructure and, in particular, vehicle safety can be responsible for road accidents as well.
See, we used to date, and I'm trying to prove to her that I can be responsible...
According to the European Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) regulations, only ECHO partners can be responsible for the implementation of aid approved by ECHO.
I just can't believe he can be responsible for something so horrible.
I believe you can be responsible with this.
If they're interested in the waterfront, they can be responsible for my legacy.
Only one country can be responsible for considering your request for protection. That is established in a law called the 'Dublin Regulation'.
- Lorraine should be in a place where there are professionals who can be responsible for her.
Then it should be fine, as long as you can be responsible.
Nobody alone can be responsible for this risk - no airlines, no governments, no European Union.
Well, you show me you can be responsible again, you get the credit cards back.
You can change right now or you can be responsible for this lady's death.
All that Europe can be responsible for is ensuring that, when new policy measures are introduced, account is taken of their effects on the situation of families in the Member States.
I'm supposed to be proving that I can be responsible, remember?
Where scientific data or practical experience substantiates that species other than those referred to in Part II of Annex III as susceptible species can be responsible for the passive transmission of a specific disease,
Standby and off-mode functions can be responsible for an important part of the total power consumption of these appliances.
It will obviously then be society's task to arrange things in such a way that yachtsmen can be responsible for their environment.
Let me know if you can be responsible for the entire clan Byrnes.
We push the button, we get a million dollars and we can be responsible for the death of another human being.

Alternatives:

may be responsible
might be responsible
could be responsible
is responsible
has the potential to be responsible

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"could be responsible"

This phrase is used to suggest a more tentative or hypothetical situation regarding someone being responsible for something.

Examples:

If he was at the scene, he could be responsible for the accident.
She could be responsible for the missing documents.
The virus could be responsible for the recent increase in cases.

Show examples from the web [+]

I don't understand how you could be responsible for this dinner if the two of you were broken up during its entire preparation.
It's hard to believe somebody capable of so much beauty could be responsible for so many horrors.
Only the gods could be responsible for the outcome.
There's only two men in this town that could be responsible for that smear:
Olof has two friends who claim that one of them could be responsible.
Do you really think that she could be responsible for the deaths that happened immediately after the crash?
The competent authorities, on the other hand, could be responsible for scrutinising whether regulated entitities comprise a conglomerate and for confirming the reporting provided by the entities comprising the conglomerate.
We could be responsible for giving someone superpowers...
No one man could be responsible for such destruction, least of all Captain America.
I think he could be responsible for a campaign of harassment against me.
There's no way he could be responsible for killing those kids.
I could be responsible for millions of deaths, unless you do something.
An agency with general competence for road transport could be responsible for this.
could be responsible for the following under Article 20
But when Parish's attack came to light, I thought an Alpha could be responsible for my... experience.
Well, she has a list of possible suspects who could be responsible for the heist, but it's a long list.
None of them have anything in their profile or background that would even remotely suggest that they could be responsible for this.
I told him to provide his contacts, So that he could be responsible later.
If we consider that another country could be responsible for examining your application, you will receive more detailed information about that procedure and how it affects you and your rights.
By not separating the ship, you could be responsible for all our deaths.

Alternatives:

may be responsible
might be responsible
can be responsible
is responsible
has the potential to be responsible

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can be responsible vs could be responsible