depend
depend — verb
1. if one thing depends on another, the first thing is decided by or changes accord
if one thing depends on another, the first thing is decided by or changes according to what the second thing does or is like — so different conditions produce different results.
Whether Rodrigo goes to the beach on Saturday depends on the weather forecast.
depend on + noun phrase: result varies by condition
The price of a train ticket depends largely on how far in advance you book.
collocation: depend largely on
Eri's chance of getting into the programme depends on her exam results and her interview.
The success of the renovation project depends heavily on the whole team working together.
How long the journey takes depends on how much traffic there is on the road.
- hinge on
more emphatic and dramatic — suggests the whole outcome rests on a single factor
- be determined by
more formal and less conditional-sounding; focuses on causation rather than variability
- rest on
slightly more formal; implies the factor is a foundation
文法句型
depend + on/upon + noun phrase
depend + on/upon + wh-clause
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs like 'largely', 'heavily', 'entirely', 'partly' between the verb and 'on'. Formal writing may use 'depend upon' instead of 'depend on'. This sense does NOT take a continuous form ('❌ is depending') in most contexts.
常見錯誤
2. used when you cannot give a definite answer because the answer changes according
used when you cannot give a definite answer because the answer changes according to different factors or conditions — you are saying the answer is not fixed because circumstances matter.
'Are you coming to the party tonight?' 'It depends — I have to finish my homework first.'
standalone 'it depends' as a response to a yes/no question
When you ask Caleb whether he likes spicy food, he always says it depends on the dish.
'Will the flight leave on time?' 'That depends on the weather conditions at the airport.'
Ayana said she might join us for dinner, but it depends on how her meeting goes this afternoon.
- be uncertain
less natural in conversation; more direct and less polite
- be up in the air
informal idiom meaning 'not yet decided'; less about conditional factors
文法句型
it depends
it depends on + noun phrase
it depends + wh-clause
用法筆記
'It depends' and 'That depends' are fixed phrases used as short answers. Speakers often follow them with an explanation of what the deciding factor is. 'It depends on [factor]' is also very common. Note: this expression uses the simple present tense even when talking about future events.