Language Activator – Accuse

Accuse/Allege/Confront/

Accuse

(transitive verb)

accuse somebody of doing something

.Human rights lawyers have accused the police of beating Murkett to death

accuse somebody

accuse somebody of something

?How can you accuse me without knowing all the facts

accusation

(countable noun)

:a statement saying that someone has done something bad

make an accusation

You’ve made a lot of accusations but you haven’t come up with any evidence to support them

accusation against

.A spokesman said the accusations against Mr Fallon would be investigated

accusation of

.There have been accusations of racism in the Los Angeles Police Department

level an accusation against somebody/something formal make an accusation

.A number of accusations have been levelled against Hutchinson by his former colleagues

wild accusation

an accusation made without thinking carefully first

You shouldn’t make any wild accusations if you’re not absolutely sure that Wilkins stole the money

allege

(transitive verb)

to say publicly that someone has done something bad or illegal, even though this has not been proved – used especially in newspapers and news reports

(allege that)

.In a statement to the press, Massey alleged that her husband had planned to kill her

be alleged to have done something

Taylor is alleged to have used public money to buy expensive presents for her friends

it is alleged that

.It has been alleged that senior officials were involved in a $20 million drugs deal

alleged

(adjective only before noun)

.When questioned about the alleged incident, he claimed to know nothing

allegedly

(adverb)

Prosecutors have arrested Johnson for allegedly accepting bribes from a property developer

allegation

(countable noun usually plural)

a public statement saying that someone has done something bad or illegal, even though this has not been proved

make an allegation

.The newspaper made several allegations, none of which turned out to be true

allegation of

.There were allegations of corruption in the police department

allegation about

.The book contains shocking allegations about the senator’s private life

allegation that

.There have been allegations in the press that the fire was started deliberately

serious allegation

?These are serious allegations. Do you have any evidence to support them

deny an allegation

say it is false

.Weimar denied allegations of financial mismanagement

Confront

(transitive verb)

:to accuse someone of doing something by showing them the proof against them

confront somebody with the evidence/proof etc

.The FBI confronted Schmidt with the evidence of his part in the murder plot

point the finger at

(verb phrase)

to say that you think someone is probably responsible for something bad that has happened, although you do not have definite proof

.Someone’s lost the letter and the boss is pointing the finger at me

accusingly

(adverb)

if you look at, point at, or speak to someone accusingly, you do it in a way that shows you think they have done something bad

‘.You did it, Tom,’ she said accusingly. ‘I know you didn’t mean to, but you did do it’

accusing

(adjective only before noun)

‘.Where have you been?’ Mick asked in an accusing tone of voice

:Practice

:Fill in the blanks with appropriate words

.N1. The man ———-of kidnapping Lucy Pohl has been found guilty

.N2. Protesters angrily ————-the police of violence and intimidation

N3. A former businessman has gone on trial ———-of a two million pound investment fraud

N4. A gang of Merseyside men were ————involved in smuggling £۵۰۰,۰۰۰-worth of cannabis

.————-N5. Janet suddenly pointed at me, and everyone looked at me

:Answers

Accused/ accused/ accused/ allegedly/ accusingly