Sich auf Personen und Dinge verlassen (Rely on)
depend on und rely on mit dem richtigen on draufhast, wird dein B1-Englisch viel flüssiger. So drückst du Notwendigkeit und Vertrauen wie ein Pro aus!
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'on' after 'depend' and 'rely' to show that one thing is decided by or needs another.
- Always use 'on' after depend, never 'of' or 'from'. Example: 'It depends on the weather.'
- Use 'rely on' when you trust someone or need them for help. Example: 'I rely on my alarm.'
- When followed by a verb, use the -ing form. Example: 'Success depends on working hard.'
Overview
rely on. Es ist eine dieser Redewendungen, die deine täglichen Gespräche zusammenhalten. Stell es dir als die verbale Version eines Sicherheitsnetzes vor.rely on ist dein Ausdruck der Wahl. Es ist einfach, kraftvoll und ehrlich gesagt benutzen wir es viel öfter, als uns bewusst ist. Wenn du dir dein Leben ohne deine Spotify-Playlists nicht vorstellen kannst, dann rely on (verlässt du dich) auf sie für deine Stimmung.rely on (verlässt du dich) darauf, dass er laut ist. Es geht um Vertrauen und Notwendigkeit.How This Grammar Works
rely) plus ein kleines Wort namens Präposition (on). Zusammen ergeben sie eine neue Bedeutung, die sich von dem Wort 'rely' allein unterscheidet.rely fast nie ohne seinen besten Freund on. Sie sind im Grunde ein Paketangebot, wie Netflix und Chill. Das Verb rely verhält sich wie jedes normale Verb.on ändert sich nie. Er bleibt genau dort, wo er ist.rely on (wie deine Mutter), eine Sache (wie dein Auto) oder sogar ein System (wie den öffentlichen Bus) verlassen. Es ist eine Art zu zeigen, dass du ohne diese Person oder Sache in Schwierigkeiten stecken könntest. Es ist der Unterschied zwischen 'I like my phone' (Ich mag mein Handy) und 'I rely on my phone for everything' (Ich verlasse mich bei allem auf mein Handy).
Formation Pattern
rely on zu bilden, folge diesen einfachen Schritten:
rely hinzu.
on folgen.
Conjugation Table
When To Use It
rely on in fast jedem Bereich deines modernen Lebens verwenden. Hier sind ein paar gängige Szenarien:- Technologie: 'I
rely onmy noise-canceling headphones to study.' Im Jahr 2024 verlassen wir uns bei allem auf unsere Technik, von der Essenslieferung bis zum Dating. - Beziehungen: 'Can I
rely onyou to keep a secret?' Das ist wichtig für Freundschaften und Vertrauen. - Tägliche Gewohnheiten: 'I
rely oncaffeine to function before noon.' Kennen wir alle, oder?
Common Mistakes
- Die falsche Präposition: Viele Leute versuchen
rely inoderrely tozu sagen. Das ist ein großes No-Go. Es heißt immerrely on. - Das 'S' vergessen: Wenn du über eine Person sprichst (he, she), musst du
reliessagen.
Quick FAQ
Conjugating 'Depend On'
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
depend on
|
don't depend on
|
Do I depend on...?
|
|
You
|
depend on
|
don't depend on
|
Do you depend on...?
|
|
He/She/It
|
depends on
|
doesn't depend on
|
Does it depend on...?
|
|
We
|
depend on
|
don't depend on
|
Do we depend on...?
|
|
They
|
depend on
|
don't depend on
|
Do they depend on...?
|
Common Conversational Shortcuts
| Full Phrase | Short Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
|
It depends on the situation.
|
It depends.
|
General response to a question.
|
|
That depends on what you want.
|
Depends.
|
Very informal/casual.
|
|
I am relying on you.
|
I'm relying on you.
|
Standard contraction.
|
Meanings
To be determined or conditioned by something else, or to trust/need someone or something for support.
Contingency
When one event is only possible if another event happens first.
“Our trip depends on whether I get my bonus.”
“The price depends on the size of the room.”
Trust/Reliability
To have confidence in someone or something to perform a task.
“You can always depend on Sarah to be on time.”
“I rely on my car to get to work every day.”
Financial/Physical Support
To need someone or something in order to survive or function.
“Many children depend on their parents until they are 20.”
“The local economy relies on tourism.”
Reference Table
| Verb | Kernbedeutung | Häufige Beispiele | Präposition |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Depend
|
Notwendigkeit, Bedingung, Einfluss
|
My mood depends on coffee. Plans depend on weather.
|
on
|
|
Rely
|
Vertrauen, Zuversicht, Stabilität, Unterstützung
|
I rely on my friends. The system relies on data.
|
on
|
|
Count
|
Erwartung, Zusicherung, Vertrauen (austauschbar mit 'rely')
|
You can count on me. I count on my alarm.
|
on
|
|
Be dependent
|
Starke Notwendigkeit, manchmal negative Konnotation
|
He is dependent on medication. Child is dependent on parents.
|
on
|
|
Independent
|
Nicht abhängig oder kontrolliert von
|
She is financially independent. Decisions are independent of feelings.
|
of
|
Formalitätsspektrum
The event's commencement is contingent upon favorable weather conditions. (Planning an outdoor activity)
The picnic depends on the weather. (Planning an outdoor activity)
It depends on the weather. (Planning an outdoor activity)
Depends on the rain, I guess. (Planning an outdoor activity)
Depend/Rely On: Kernkonzepte
Abhängen von
- Notwendigkeit Braucht, dass etwas passiert
- Bedingung Ergebnis ist bedingt
- Einfluss Beeinflusst von etwas
Sich verlassen auf
- Vertrauen Glaube an Zuverlässigkeit
- Zuversicht Zusicherung von Unterstützung
- Stabilität Auf Beständigkeit zählen
Gemeinsame Elemente
- Präposition 'ON' Immer nach dem Verb verwendet
- Objekte Nomen, Pronomen, Gerundien
- B1-Niveau Grammatik für Fortgeschrittene
Depend On vs. Rely On vs. Count On Vergleich
Wahl zwischen 'Depend On' oder 'Rely On'
Geht es im Satz um eine *Notwendigkeit* oder *Bedingung* für ein Ergebnis?
Geht es im Satz um *Vertrauen* oder *Zuversicht* in die Stabilität oder Unterstützung von jemandem/etwas?
Worauf verlässt/verträgst du dich?
Menschen
- • Friends
- • Family
- • Colleagues
- • Experts
Dinge/Systeme
- • Phone
- • Internet
- • GPS
- • Software
Abstrakte Konzepte
- • Luck
- • Data
- • Experience
- • Circumstances
Bedingungen
- • Weather
- • Funding
- • Availability
- • Performance
Beispiele nach Niveau
It depends on the rain.
Depende de la lluvia.
I depend on my dad.
Dependo de mi papá.
Does it depend on the time?
¿Depende de la hora?
It doesn't depend on me.
No depende de mí.
We rely on our car every day.
Confiamos en nuestro coche todos los días.
The price depends on the color.
El precio depende del color.
I am relying on you to help me.
Estoy contando contigo para que me ayudes.
It depends on the day of the week.
Depende del día de la semana.
Our future depends on making the right choice now.
Nuestro futuro depende de tomar la decisión correcta ahora.
I rely on my phone for almost everything.
Dependo de mi teléfono para casi todo.
Whether we win depends on how hard we practice.
Si ganamos depende de cuánto practiquemos.
He relies on his sister for emotional support.
Él depende de su hermana para apoyo emocional.
The success of the project depends on everyone's cooperation.
El éxito del proyecto depende de la cooperación de todos.
You shouldn't rely on luck to pass the exam.
No deberías confiar en la suerte para aprobar el examen.
The company relies heavily on overseas sales.
La empresa depende en gran medida de las ventas en el extranjero.
It all depends on what the manager decides.
Todo depende de lo que decida el gerente.
The theory depends on several unproven assumptions.
La teoría depende de varias suposiciones no probadas.
The elderly often rely on the state for their pension.
Los ancianos a menudo dependen del estado para su pensión.
The outcome depends on the jury's interpretation of the law.
El resultado depende de la interpretación de la ley por parte del jurado.
She relies on her intuition when making difficult decisions.
Ella confía en su intuición al tomar decisiones difíciles.
The stability of the bridge depends on the integrity of its pillars.
La estabilidad del puente depende de la integridad de sus pilares.
The narrative relies on the reader's ability to infer meaning.
La narrativa depende de la capacidad del lector para inferir el significado.
Whether the treaty is signed depends on the resolution of the border dispute.
Que se firme el tratado depende de la resolución de la disputa fronteriza.
The ecosystem relies on a delicate balance between species.
El ecosistema depende de un delicado equilibrio entre las especies.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners see 'depend on' and assume 'independent' also takes 'on'.
Both can be used to show a relationship between two things.
Learners use 'trust on' because of 'rely on'.
Häufige Fehler
It depends of the weather.
It depends on the weather.
I depend from my parents.
I depend on my parents.
It depend on you.
It depends on you.
I rely of my car.
I rely on my car.
It depends on go now.
It depends on going now.
I am depend on you.
I depend on you.
It depends on how is the weather.
It depends on how the weather is.
I rely on he to help.
I rely on him to help.
It depends on if it rains.
It depends on whether it rains.
The movie depends of a good script.
The movie depends on a good script.
The results are dependent of the sample size.
The results are dependent on the sample size.
Satzmuster
It depends on ___.
I rely on ___ to ___.
Whether we ___ depends on ___.
Success depends on ___ing ___.
Real World Usage
Can't say yet, depends on when I finish.
I rely on my organizational skills to meet deadlines.
Our route depends on the road conditions.
Relying on coffee and kindness.
Don't rely on a single source of income.
The flood risk depends on tonight's rainfall.
Immer 'on' benutzen!
I depend on my friends.
Vertrauen vs. Brauchen
I rely on my best friend.Wenn etwas anderes nötig ist, damit etwas passiert, nimm 'depend on', wie:
My plans depend on the weather.
'Dependent on' – sei vorsichtig!
He is dependent on his parents for money.Das ist ein bisschen anders als das neutralere Verb 'depend on'.
Kontext ist alles!
I rely on my smartphone every day.
Smart Tips
Stop and visualize a person sitting ON a chair. The person depends ON the chair.
Always add -ing. Prepositions are like glue that only sticks to -ing verbs.
Use 'rely on' instead of 'need' when talking about tools or people.
Start with 'That's a good question, it depends on...' to give yourself time to think.
Aussprache
Linking 'Depend' and 'On'
In natural speech, the 'd' at the end of 'depend' often slides into the 'o' of 'on'.
Schwa in 'Depend'
The first 'e' in 'depend' is a weak sound, almost like 'dih-pend'.
Rising on 'Depends'
It de-PENDS? ↗
Shows uncertainty or that more information is needed.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of the word 'ON' as a light switch. The light (the result) only turns 'ON' if you flip the switch (the condition).
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a person leaning 'ON' a cane. The person is the subject, the cane is the object, and the act of leaning is 'depending'. Without the cane, the person falls.
Rhyme
Whether you're weak or whether you're strong, 'depend' and 'rely' always take 'ON'.
Story
A traveler is lost in the desert. He 'depends on' his map to find the way, and he 'relies on' his last bottle of water to survive. Both the map and the water are 'on' his mind.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write three sentences about your morning routine using 'rely on' (e.g., 'I rely on coffee to wake up'). Then, write three sentences about your weekend plans using 'it depends on'.
Kulturelle Hinweise
In US business culture, being 'reliable' (someone you can rely on) is one of the highest compliments. It implies consistency and punctuality.
British speakers often use 'It depends' as a polite way to say 'no' or to avoid a direct answer that might be awkward.
On platforms like Patreon or YouTube, creators often say they 'rely on' their community, emphasizing a partnership rather than just a transaction.
The word 'depend' comes from the Latin 'dependere', meaning 'to hang from'.
Gesprächseinstiege
What does your happiness depend on?
Who do you rely on when you have a problem?
Does your job depend on using English?
What technology do you rely on the most?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
Our camping trip ___ the weather being sunny.
Choose the correct sentence:
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesThe success of the party depends ___ the music.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
It depends of how much time we have.
depends / it / on / weather / the
A: Are you coming to the gym? B: It depends ___ I finish my work.
Select the odd one out.
Match 'Depend on' and 'Rely on'.
Passing the test depends on ___ every day.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesMy happiness doesn't always depend ___ how much money I have.
You can always rely him to be honest.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Ella confía mucho en sus compañeros de equipo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence halves:
A healthy diet and regular exercise ___ your overall well-being.
My phone is old, so I don't really depend it anymore.
Which sentence is grammatically sound?
Translate into English: 'depender de la situación'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the verb to its common preposition in this context:
Our company always ___ our employees' feedback for improvement.
Score: /13
FAQ (8)
No. While some languages use 'from', English strictly uses `on`. Saying 'depends from' will sound incorrect to native speakers.
They are very similar! `Count on` is slightly more informal and usually refers to people. `Depend on` can be used for people, things, or logical conditions.
Yes, in conversation. If someone asks 'Are you going?', you can simply say `It depends.` It implies that there are conditions you haven't mentioned yet.
Both are used in speech, but `whether` is more formal and grammatically correct for writing. Example: `It depends on whether it rains.`
Absolutely. You can say `The plant depends on sunlight` or `The price depends on the market.`
Adding `heavily` means you need that thing very much. Example: `I rely heavily on my glasses` means you can't see at all without them.
Yes. The adjective form `dependent` also uses `on`. Example: `He is dependent on his inhaler.`
This is likely 'L1 interference.' If your native language (like Spanish or French) uses 'of', your brain tries to translate it directly. You must consciously practice the 'on' connection.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
depender de
Preposition choice: 'de' vs 'on'.
dépendre de
French uses 'of', English uses 'on'.
abhängen von
German uses 'from', English uses 'on'.
...ni yoru / ...shidai
Japanese uses post-positional particles or nouns.
ya'tamid 'ala
Very similar logic and preposition.
qu jue yu
Chinese uses a full verb phrase rather than a preposition.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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