What Does โDevolve upon sbโ Mean?
โDevolve upon sbโ means to transfer responsibility, duties, or power from one person or group to another, usually to someone lower in rank or position.
Introduction
The phrase โdevolve upon sbโ is often used in formal or official contexts to describe the passing down of duties or responsibilities. When something devolves upon someone, it means that person is expected to take over or manage a task or role. Understanding the devolve upon sb meaning helps learners grasp how responsibilities shift in organizations, governments, or everyday life. This phrase is useful for discussing changes in authority or accountability clearly and professionally.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: devolve upon somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2โC1
- Short meaning: to transfer responsibility or power to someone else
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โDevolve upon sbโ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot separate โdevolveโ and โuponโ by adding the object in between.
Correct pattern: devolve upon + somebody
Examples:
- The responsibility devolved upon the manager.
- Power devolves upon the committee after the election.
How to Use โDevolve upon sbโ?
Use โdevolve upon sbโ when you want to express that a duty or power is passed down to a particular person or group. It often suggests a downward transfer in hierarchy or a delegation of tasks. This phrase fits well in formal writing, business discussions, and legal contexts.
It typically appears in the passive voice or with abstract nouns like responsibility, power, or authority.
Examples
- The responsibility for maintaining the records devolved upon the new assistant.
- After the CEO resigned, the decision-making power devolved upon the board of directors.
- In a democracy, many responsibilities devolve upon local governments.
- The task of organizing the event devolved upon the junior staff.
- Legal obligations often devolve upon the executor of the will.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: The responsibility devolved the manager.
Correct: The responsibility devolved upon the manager. - Incorrect: Power devolved on him.
Correct: Power devolved upon him. - Incorrect: They devolved the task upon the team.
Correct: The task devolved upon the team.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include โpass on to,โ โdelegate to,โ and โassign to.โ However, โdevolve upon sbโ often implies an official or formal transfer, usually downward in rank or status.
- Delegate to: Usually involves a deliberate choice to assign tasks (more active).
- Pass on to: More general and informal, can be used for anything transferred.
- Devolve upon: Often formal, implies responsibility or power shifting, especially downward.
Common Collocations
- Responsibility devolves upon
- Power devolves upon
- Authority devolves upon
- Duties devolve upon
- Tasks devolve upon
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of devolve upon sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Who will handle the project now that the manager left?
Ben: The responsibility will devolve upon the assistant manager.
Anna: Thatโs a big task for someone new!
Ben: Yes, but itโs a good opportunity to prove herself.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase:
The duty of approving budgets ___ the finance team after the directorโs departure.
- a) devolved upon
- b) devolved to
- c) delegated upon
- d) passed on at
FAQs
- Q: Can โdevolve uponโ be used in casual conversations?
A: It is more common in formal or professional contexts but can be used casually if appropriate.
- Q: Is โdevolve uponโ separable?
A: No, you cannot separate โdevolveโ and โupon.โ
- Q: What types of responsibilities usually devolve upon someone?
A: Duties, power, authority, and tasks often devolve upon individuals in organizations.
- Q: Can โdevolve uponโ be used in the active voice?
A: It is usually passive or used with abstract nouns as the subject.
- Q: Whatโs the difference between โdevolve uponโ and โdelegate toโ?
โDevolve uponโ implies a formal or hierarchical transfer, while โdelegate toโ is more about assigning tasks intentionally.
