depend on

depend on — 片語動詞

  • depend onbase form
  • depends on3rd person singular
  • depending on-ing form
  • depended onpast simple

1. to trust someone or something because you are sure they will help you or do what

1.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

依賴；依靠

信任並指望他人協助

to trust someone or something because you are sure they will help you or do what you expect them to

例句

Amelia knows she can always depend on her older sister for advice when life gets hard.

Amelia 知道她在困難時總能依賴姐姐的建議。

depend on + person + for + noun phrase

The night-shift nurse can depend on the hospital security team to walk her to the car park.

值大夜班的護理師可以依賴醫院警衛陪她走到停車場。

depend on + someone + to + infinitive

同義詞
  • rely on

    identical in meaning and usage; slightly more formal

  • count on

    more informal, common in everyday conversation

文法句型

depend on + noun phrase

depend on + someone + for + something

用法筆記

Often used with 'can' or 'could' to express the idea that someone is reliably available to help.

常見錯誤

❌You can always depend your parents.
✅You can always depend on your parents.
💡The preposition 'on' is required; 'depend' never takes a direct object without it.

2. to trust that a future event will take place in exactly the way you are hoping f

2.片語動詞及物B2
釋義

指望；確信

確信某事會按預期發生

to trust that a future event will take place in exactly the way you are hoping for

例句

Saira is depending on the last train of the night to get her home after the concert.

Saira 指望今晚最後一班火車送她演唱會後回家。

depend on + noun + to + infinitive (expectation)

Adina is depending on her landlord fixing the broken heater before the cold weather arrives.

Adina 指望房東在天氣變冷前修好壞掉的暖氣。

depend on + noun + verb-ing

同義詞
  • count on

    more informal; common in spoken English

  • bank on

    informal; suggests strong confidence in an outcome

反義詞
  • doubt

    to feel uncertain about something happening

文法句型

depend on + noun phrase + to + infinitive

depend on + noun + verb-ing

用法筆記

This sense is frequently used in continuous tenses (e.g. 'I'm depending on you to…') to emphasise present reliance on a future event.

常見錯誤

❌I depend on my brother picks me up.
✅I depend on my brother to pick me up.
💡After 'depend on someone', use 'to + infinitive', not a bare clause.

3. to need someone or something to provide you with the money, help, or other thing

3.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

仰賴；需要

需要他人提供生活所需

to need someone or something to provide you with the money, help, or other things required to live or function

例句

Hugo's grandfather depends on a walking stick to move around the house safely.

Hugo 的祖父仰賴枴杖才能在屋裡安全走動。

depend on + thing + to + infinitive (need for function)

The animal shelter depends on donations from local shops to feed the dogs and cats.

動物收容所仰賴當地商店的捐贈來餵養貓狗。

depend on + noun phrase + for + noun phrase

同義詞
  • rely on

    similar but emphasises trust more than need

  • lean on

    more informal; suggests emotional or practical support

反義詞

文法句型

depend on + noun phrase + for + noun phrase

depend on + noun phrase + to + infinitive

用法筆記

Commonly used when talking about money, health, or basic needs. The subject is often a person or group that cannot function without the object.

常見錯誤

❌The hospital depends of donations to stay open.
✅The hospital depends on donations to stay open.
💡Learners often confuse 'depend of' with 'depend on'; 'of' is always incorrect after 'depend'.

4. to change or be decided according to a particular factor, situation, or conditio

4.片語動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

取決於

由某種因素決定結果

to change or be decided according to a particular factor, situation, or condition

例句

Mia asked whether the picnic was still happening, and I said it depends on the weather.

Mia 問野餐是否照常舉行，我說要看天氣。

it depends on + noun phrase (conditional outcome)

Whether you get into the college depends on your exam results and your interview score.

能否考上那所大學取決於你的考試成績和面試分數。

whether-clause + depends on + noun phrase

同義詞
  • hinge on

    more formal; suggests that the whole outcome rests on one thing

  • be contingent on

    formal; used in academic or legal writing

文法句型

depend on + noun phrase

it depends on + wh-clause

it depends (standalone)

用法筆記

The standalone form 'It depends' is very common in spoken English as a complete answer, especially before 'It depends on…' clarifies the condition.

常見錯誤

❌If we go out depend of the weather.
✅Whether we go out depends on the weather.
💡Use a full clause as the subject, and always use 'on' not 'of'.