charges
The official price requested for a service or item, or formal accusations made by a legal authority. It can also refer to the physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field.
Charges represent a formal demand for payment, a legal accusation, or electrical energy.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Amounts of money paid for goods or services provided.
- Formal legal statements accusing someone of committing a specific crime.
- The electrical energy stored in a battery or particle.
Summary
Charges represent a formal demand for payment, a legal accusation, or electrical energy.
- Amounts of money paid for goods or services provided.
- Formal legal statements accusing someone of committing a specific crime.
- The electrical energy stored in a battery or particle.
Check your bank statements for hidden charges
Always look for 'hidden charges' which are extra costs not mentioned in the initial price.
Legal charges are serious matters
If someone 'faces charges,' it means they are going to court for a suspected crime.
Service charges vary by country
In some countries, service charges are included in the price, while in others, they are added at the end.
Exemples
4 sur 4There are no extra charges for delivery.
The police dropped the charges due to a lack of evidence.
My phone charges much faster with this new cable.
Protons carry positive electrical charges.
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
Think of a 'Credit Charge' (money) and a 'Police Charge' (crime). Both involve a 'bill' you have to answer for.
Overview
'Charges' is a versatile word in English with three primary domains: financial, legal, and scientific. At its core, it implies a 'load' or 'burden' placed upon someone or something, whether that is a financial cost, a legal responsibility for an action, or an electrical state. 2) Usage Patterns: In a financial sense, it is almost always used as a plural noun (e.g., 'service charges'). In a legal sense, it refers to specific counts of a crime (e.g., 'murder charges'). As a verb, it describes the act of asking for payment or the movement of energy into a battery. 3) Common Contexts: You will encounter 'charges' most frequently when looking at bank statements, reading news reports about court cases, or discussing mobile phone batteries. It is also used in leadership contexts, such as being 'in charge' of a group. 4) Similar Words Comparison: While 'fees' usually refer to professional services (like a lawyer's fee), 'charges' are broader and can apply to any commercial transaction. Unlike 'accusations', which can be informal, 'legal charges' are formal and documented by the state. In science, 'charges' are specific to electromagnetism, distinct from 'current' which is the flow of those charges.
Notes d'usage
In financial contexts, 'charges' is neutral. In legal contexts, it is formal and serious. When used as a verb in the third person, it is common in both daily conversation (electronics) and business.
Erreurs courantes
Do not confuse 'charges' with 'change' (the money you get back). Also, avoid using 'charges' as a singular noun when referring to a price; use 'charge' instead.
Astuce mémo
Think of a 'Credit Charge' (money) and a 'Police Charge' (crime). Both involve a 'bill' you have to answer for.
Origine du mot
Derived from the Old French word 'chargier', meaning to load a wagon or to burden someone with a task.
Contexte culturel
In the UK and US, 'service charges' are often debated in restaurants regarding whether they replace a tip or are an additional fee.
Exemples
There are no extra charges for delivery.
everydayThe police dropped the charges due to a lack of evidence.
formalMy phone charges much faster with this new cable.
informalProtons carry positive electrical charges.
academicFamille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
In charge of
Press charges
Admission charges
Souvent confondu avec
Fees are typically for professional services or memberships, while charges are more general for any cost or price.
A price is the total amount for an item; charges are often additional or specific costs added to a base price.
Modèles grammaticaux
Check your bank statements for hidden charges
Always look for 'hidden charges' which are extra costs not mentioned in the initial price.
Legal charges are serious matters
If someone 'faces charges,' it means they are going to court for a suspected crime.
Service charges vary by country
In some countries, service charges are included in the price, while in others, they are added at the end.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct usage of the word.
The hotel added extra ___ for using the mini-bar.
In this context, we need the plural noun referring to costs.
Identify the meaning of 'charges' in the following sentence: 'The suspect faces three charges of theft.'
In a court or police context, charges refer to the crimes someone is accused of.
Select the correct order to form a sentence.
This follows the Subject-Verb-Object pattern where 'charges' acts as the verb.
Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsA fee is often a fixed price for professional advice or a specific right, while a charge is a more general term for any cost applied to a service or transaction.
It means to officially accuse someone of a crime so that a legal prosecution can begin.
Yes, it is the third-person singular form of the verb 'to charge,' meaning he or she asks for money or fills a battery.
These are additional costs added to the bill to pay for the work of the staff serving you.
