ACCUSE : BLAME

TOPIC 10

ACCUSE : BLAME

These verbs may be used in the same pattern but with different preposition:

“to accuse a person of something”, but

“to blame a person for something”.

For example

* The matron accused the nurse of neglecting her patients.

* The matron blamed the nurse for neglecting her patients.

[Matron: a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified]

Blame is used in others way:

“to blame something on somebody” and

“to be to blame (for something)”

For example

* The police blamed the accident on the driver of the lorry.

* They said it was the driver’s fault; he was to blame (for the accident).

[was/were is the second form of BE verb]

Blame is also used as a noun.

* The company laid the blame for the fire on the caretaker.

* The caretaker had to bear the blame (for the fire).