share or share in

Question

Hi teachers,Dictionary definations:to have equal responsibility for or involvement in (something) [+ obj] ? I share the blame for what happened. [no obj] — + in? We all share in the responsibility for this tragedy.? The whole family shares in the household chores.Why is that 'I share the blame for what happened' and 'We all share in the responsibility for this tragedy' would choose one with 'in' and one without?ThanksTN

An0nymous · Accepted Answer

There is a difference in the meaning of the verb "share" when it is transitive (has a direct object) and when it is intransitive (does not have a direct object). When transitive, it means to divide up something, or to acquire something, in association with others. So the sentence, "I share the blame for what happened.", means that you acquire, along with others, the blame for what happened.

When intransitive, it means to join or participate with others. So the sentence, "We all share in the responsibility for this tragedy.", means we join with others in taking the responsibility for the tragedy. This can be tricky to understand, because here you are not acquiring the responsibility (that would be a transitive usage, and then responsibility would be the direct object). If you said the sentence as, "We share the responsibility for this tragedy.", that would make the verb transitive, and the meaning would be different: you are dividing up the responsibility, in association with others.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi An0nymous,

Thanks for the explanation. Sometimes dictionaries do not explan the difference.

TN

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