用於表示某人或某物「扮演/擔任」某個具體身分或功能。結構為 play the role of + 名詞（可接 a/an/the + 角色名詞，如 a teacher, the leader）。可用於戲劇（字面）或比喻語境（功能/職責）。常接 in + 活動/團隊/情境 說明場域（如 in our class play, in the team）。請注意不可用 as（✗ play the role as），也不要與 play a role in 搞混。
範例：
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In our English drama, Kevin will play the role of Romeo.
在英語話劇中，Kevin 將扮演羅密歐的角色。
其他形式：
play the part of ...
與 play the role of 幾乎同義，偏口語且常見於表演/角色扮演情境；也可用於比喻。語氣比 role 稍輕鬆。
範例：
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For Halloween, I played the part of a detective at the party.
萬聖節派對上，我扮演一位偵探。
常見錯誤
✗
She played the role as the leader.
✓
She played the role of the leader.
固定搭配為 play the role of，不可用 as。介系詞錯誤會造成搭配不自然或被判為文法錯誤。
✗
He played a role of the leader in our team.
✓
He played the role of the leader in our team. / He played a role in leading our team.
play the role of（具體身分）與 play a role in（在…中起作用）意義不同；此句若要表「擔任領袖」，應用 the role of；若要表「在帶領方面起作用」，用 a role in + V-ing。
✗
Our phones play the role to wake us up.
✓
Our phones play the role of an alarm. / Our phones play a role in waking us up.
play the role of 後面需接名詞；若要接動作，常用 play a role in + V-ing。