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curious777
Joined: 01 May 2012
Posts: 5
Location: Taiwan
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 Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 1:33 am Post subject: liabilty, duty,responsibility |
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Dear teacher:
Recently, I learned a new word "liability". I check the dictionary and I found it has the same meaning as "responsibility". Therefore, I got confused and the word "duty" bumped into my mind too.
I'd like to ask what are the difference in "liability", "duty" and "responsibility"? And the time of using them.
Thank you very much!
Sincerely, yours |
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askeladd
Joined: 05 Jan 2010
Posts: 89
Location: Chicago area, USA
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| Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 9:15 am Post subject: Re: liabilty, duty,responsibility |
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| curious777 wrote: |
Dear teacher:
Recently, I learned a new word "liability". I check the dictionary and I found it has the same meaning as "responsibility". Therefore, I got confused and the word "duty" bumped into my mind too.
I'd like to ask what are the difference in "liability", "duty" and "responsibility"? And the time of using them.
Thank you very much!
Sincerely, yours |
"liability" is more of a legal term, meaning that someone is legally responsible. For example, if someone had a backyard pool that was not fenced in, and a neighborhood child went swimming and drowned, the pool owner might be held liable (even if he didn't know about it, or didn't invite the child) because he didn't erect a fence around the pool.
"duty" implies an obligation - something you have to do. The obligation could be legal, civic, moral, religious, etc. For example, citizens have a duty to pay taxes, to vote, to serve in a jury or in the military (civic duties). Members of a religious group might have a duty to pray, to give alms, or to go to church on certain days.
"responsibility" implies that a thing is under your care. Whatever you are responsible for, you have to make sure that it is taken care of (if it's a person or an animal, for example) or that some task gets done.
It's John's responsibility to cut the grass each weekend.
The boss is responsible for seeing that the project is completed on time.
Babysitting is a big responsibility.
Hope this helps 
_________________
Helping ESL students since 2001!
www.summit-esl.com |
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curious777
Joined: 01 May 2012
Posts: 5
Location: Taiwan
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| Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:04 pm Post subject: Thank you, teacher! |
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Dear teacher:
Thank you very much for your reply. You explained these three words so detailed. I can fully understand the usage of them now. I feel more clearly than before. Thank you so much!!
Sincerely, yours |
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