CAE Phrasal Verb: Account For

Below you will find two of the uses of the phrasal verb 'account for' which you are likely to find used in the Cambridge Advanced exam.

In addition to the meaning/definition for each use, you will also find two examples of it being used with each meaning (to help you understand the use and the context it is used in better).

In order to remember these uses, make sure to make an example in your own words with the phrasal verb.

Use 1

To say what the percentage or proportion of a specific thing (e.g. sales of romance books) is out of the total (e.g. sales of all books).

For the average family, food ACCOUNTS FOR 20% of their monthly expenditure. On average, they spend more each month on accomodation (around 40%).

Motor vehicles only ACCOUNT FOR 11% of emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Whereas cows ACCOUNT FOR over a third of the yearly total.

Click here to watch a YouTube video on this meaning of the phrasal verb

Use 2

To explain/give a reason for why something happens or happened.

"His father is in the hospital at the moment and he's been staying with him."
"That ACCOUNTS FOR why he hasn't been at work for the last three days."

"Can you ACCOUNT FOR why somebody was able to get into the office and take the documents without anyone noticing?"
"I can't at the moment. But if you give me a few days I'm sure I'll be able to find out."

Click here to watch a YouTube video on this meaning of the phrasal verb


Return to the list of 50 commonly phrasal verbs in the CAE exam.