understand the obligations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "understand the obligations" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it in any context when referring to someone's understanding of responsibilities. For example, "I expect everyone to understand the obligations of the job before they start working."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Before students borrow to pay for their education, they need to understand the obligations they are taking on, and how long it will take to pay them off.

The New York Times

In Obama's speech, Christina became a sort of better angel: Imagine for a moment: here was a young girl who was just becoming aware of our democracy; just beginning to understand the obligations of citizenship; just starting to glimpse the fact that someday she too might play a part in shaping her nation's future.

The New Yorker

Imagine: here was a young girl who was just becoming aware of our democracy; just beginning to understand the obligations of citizenship; just starting to glimpse the fact that someday she too might play a part in shaping her nation's future.

The New York Times

"We and every employee of the Dover Port Mortuary understand the obligations of this work, the sanctity of this work, the necessity, the need for reverence, the need for dignity and respect for our fallen, just as if these were our sons and our daughters," General Schwartz said Monday, a day before the investigation's findings were released.

The New York Times

To assess this, we need to understand the obligations the agreements impose on governments.

Huffington Post

Here's how.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

To make you understand his journey, understand the obligation that he has".

The New York Times

Collins defended the scientific reasoning behind NIH's spending priorities, but also repeated a point made at almost every 21st Century Cures event: "I promise you, this is not just researchers with their hands out, saying 'Leave us alone.' We understand the obligation to be incredibly efficient and creative about what we do".

Science Magazine

There are two ways to understand the obligation to research: 1) a collective obligation that falls upon us jointly and severally, to make provision for the fulfilment of the obligation through the social apparatus that exists to do this; 2) an individual obligation that falls upon each of us.

Bioethics

As one respondent explained, Irish people simply don't understand the obligation to remit: 'My sister who is unemployed with the children and granddaughter with her and most of their expenses comes from me, now nobody will understand that in an Irish point of view' (Lorna).

Human Resources for Health

The BBC may be far from perfect and one sometimes wonders whether the current director general fully understands the obligations that public service broadcasting imposes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or contractual matters, ensure that all parties involved "understand the obligations" clearly to avoid future disputes.

Common error

Avoid using "understand the obligations" when you actually mean understanding the available choices or alternatives. 'Obligations' implies a binding duty, not a range of possibilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "understand the obligations" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of comprehending or grasping the duties and responsibilities associated with a particular situation, role, or agreement. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "understand the obligations" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that emphasizes the importance of comprehending duties and responsibilities. As Ludwig AI has confirmed, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. While alternatives like "grasp the responsibilities" or "recognize the commitments" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to use this phrase when stressing the importance of fully knowing what is required, especially in legally or morally binding situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comprehend the duties

Replaces "obligations" with "duties", implying a more formal or mandatory sense of responsibility.

grasp the responsibilities

Uses "grasp" instead of "understand", suggesting a more thorough and complete understanding.

be cognizant of the responsibilities

Replaces "understand" with "be cognizant of", making the alternative more formal.

recognize the commitments

Emphasizes the binding nature of the "obligations", focusing on agreements and promises.

appreciate the requirements

Highlights the necessity of fulfilling specific needs and conditions associated with the obligations.

fully appreciate the significance of the duties

This phrase emphasizes the importance of the duties, going beyond simple understanding.

be aware of the liabilities

Focuses on the potential negative consequences or risks associated with the obligations.

realize the constraints

Highlights the limitations or restrictions imposed by the obligations.

acknowledge the imperatives

Implies a moral or ethical necessity to understand and act upon the obligations.

know the score

An informal way of saying understand the situation, including the obligations.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "understand the obligations"?

You can use alternatives like "comprehend the duties", "grasp the responsibilities", or "recognize the commitments" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "understand the obligations" or "understand the responsibilities"?

Both "understand the obligations" and "understand the responsibilities" are grammatically correct and very close in meaning. "Obligations" often implies a stronger sense of legal or moral duty, while "responsibilities" can be broader.

How do you use "understand the obligations" in a sentence?

You might say, "Before signing the contract, make sure you fully "understand the obligations" outlined within", or "It's crucial for citizens to "understand the obligations" that come with their rights".

What does it mean to "understand the obligations" of a contract?

To "understand the obligations" of a contract means to fully comprehend the duties, responsibilities, and binding agreements that you are agreeing to when you sign the contract.