expresses reliance, conditionality, or causation

to indicate what something hinges upon or what support is required

decision-making processes, planning scenarios, conditional predictions, expressing uncertainty

everyday conversation, academic reasoning, professional problem-solving environments

depend on

depend on

something; someone; whether/wh-clause; how much/where

• heavily
• entirely
• largely
• solely
• ultimately
• it all depends on

• rely on
• hinge on

omitting 'on': *depend something; using infinitive after: *depend on to do

rely on vs. depend on (rely implies trust more strongly); hinge on (more dramatic condition)

Spanish/Portuguese speakers may use *depend of; German learners may overuse conditional without 'on'

• rely on
• rest on
• hinge on
• be up to

'depend on' is neutral; 'hinge on' implies one decisive factor; 'count on' adds personal trust

softens absolute statements; introduces conditionality

It depends on...

This chunk is essential for expressing dependency and conditionality in various contexts, from casual conversation to formal academic or professional settings. It's crucial for learners to understand the different substitution slots, especially the distinction between tangible dependencies (someone/something) and conditional dependencies (whether/if-clauses). The chunk also serves as a foundation for more advanced expressions of dependency and causation.

from 'depend on' to 'hinge on' or 'be contingent upon' for formal writing