Meaning
to rely with confidence on someone or something
Primary Function
expresses trust in reliability or occurrence
Communicative Purpose
to assure, request dependability, or predict outcomes
Pattern
count on
Core Structure
count on
Função primária
expresses trust in reliability or occurrence
Propósito comunicativo
to assure, request dependability, or predict outcomes
Situações de gatilho
making plans, delegating tasks, endorsing commitments
Contextos
everyday conversation, professional agreements, business negotiations
Padrão
count on
Estrutura central
count on
Slots de substituição
someone/something: the person, entity, or thing you rely on
Colocados típicos
- can always count on
- couldn’t count on
- count on it
Substituições comuns
- rely on
- depend on
- bank on
Erros comuns
using infinitive directly: *count on to help instead of *count on someone to help
Similar / contraste
rely on, depend on, bank on (more informal alternatives)
Interferências
learners may misuse prepositions (*count with) or insert unrelated particles (*count in), leading to semantic shifts from the idiomatic meaning
Família do chunk
- rely on
- bank on
- lean on
- depend on
Nuance
'count on' conveys a personal trust and often implies an implicit promise; it carries interpersonal warmth compared to more neutral expressions like 'depend on'.
Efeito pragmático
The phrase makes requests sound assertive yet polite—e.g., ‘Can I count on you?’ signals confidence while maintaining respect.
Dica de memória
“You can count on me.”
Nota
To express confidence in someone's reliability or predictability, often used in making plans or delegating tasks.
Upgrade path
use ‘I am counting on’ for softer pressure; formal alternative ‘rely upon’
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