to be incumbent on
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to be incumbent on someone
To fall to someone as a duty or task; to lie within someone's area of responsibility. The verb is usually used impersonally with 'es' and a dative object.
Es obliegt dem Gericht, über die Schuld des Angeklagten zu entscheiden.
It is incumbent on the court to decide on the defendant's guilt.
This verb is almost always used impersonally with 'es' (it). The person or institution that has the duty is in the dative, followed by an infinitive clause with 'zu' (to).
Es obliegt den Eltern, für ihre Kinder zu sorgen.
It is incumbent on the parents to care for their children.
The responsible person or institution is always in the dative with 'obliegen'. This is a fixed grammatical rule for this verb.
Dem Management obliegt die Entscheidung über neue Projekte.
The decision about new projects is incumbent on management.
'Obliegen' is a word used in administrative and formal language. You find it in contracts, laws, or official communications, but almost never in everyday colloquial speech.
Laut Vertrag obliegt es dem Mieter, die Wohnung in gutem Zustand zu halten.
According to the contract, it is incumbent on the tenant to keep the apartment in good condition.
to approach / to be due
Both verbs can assign responsibility to a person. Zukommen presents it as an assigned role or one that is appropriate for the person. Obliegen emphasizes more strongly that the task is an obligatory part of that person's area of responsibility.
Bei der heutigen Sitzung obliegt Anna die Leitung.
At today's meeting, leading the session is Anna's responsibility.
Bei der heutigen Sitzung kommt Anna die Leitung zu.
At today's meeting, Anna is assigned to lead.
