1it/that dependsspokenDEPEND/IT DEPENDS used to say that you cannot give a definiteanswer to something because your answer will be affected by something else 那得看情况
‘How long are you staying?’ ‘I don’t know; it depends.’
“你打算逗留多久?” “我不知道,得看情况。”
it depends who/what/how/whether etc
You may take several months to reach your target weight – it depends how much you want to lose.
要达到目标体重也许需要几个月时间——这取决于你想减掉多少体重。
Examples from the Corpus
it/that depends• The arbitrator's decision is also meant to replace the reasons on which it depends.• However, that depends on a futurelegal decision.• And one that depends on government policies.• Whether they make it depends on how long it takes them to realize and step back.• At these outside shows it depends on the weather.• But second, it depends on what our selective-attention circuitsselect from all the sensations.• Well, that depends whether you'd rather shield them from such things or prepare them for it.
2depend on/upon somebody/somethingphrasal verbphr v
a)DEPEND/IT DEPENDSif something depends on something else, it is directly affected or decided by that thing 取决于
The length of time spent exercising depends on the sport you are training for.
锻炼时间长短取决于训练的体育项目。
depend on how/what/whether etc
Choosing the right bike depends on what you want to use it for.
选择哪一种自行车合适取决于你的用途。
depending on something
The expenses you claim can vary enormously, depending on travel distances involved.
报销的金额可能相差很大,要看旅程的长短。
5Don’t say that one thing ‘is depend on’ another. Say that one thing depends on or is dependent on another.
不要说 one thing ‘is depend on’ another. 而要说 one thing depends on或is dependent on another.
depend on how/what/whether etc• The proportion of genes which an individual shares with a relationdepends on how close the relationship is.• But a lot depends on how good a job Claris does when it comes to adding the finalgloss.• In return, majordonors were grantedvariousprivileges, depending on how much they had given.• The correlation here is somewhat subtle and depends on whether one is near to the bifurcation points or far from them.• What you do depends on whether the coldradiator is the only one affected, or whether others are cold too.• The second approach may have similarweaknesses, but this will depend on how the individual curricula are combined.• This was generous or brutal, depending on how you looked at it.• Much depends on what you want to do with the model.
✗Don’t say: The cost is depend on the time of year.
Using the progressive
Depend is not used in the progressive. You say:
It depends (on) what you want.
✗Don’t say: It is depending (on) what you want.
However, the present participle depending is often used:
It costs between $50 and $70, depending on what you want.
nTHESAURUS
depend on something/somebody to need something or someone in order to exist, or be healthy, successful etc
The island’s economy depends on tourism.
The two industries depend on each other.
Many people depend on the sport for their livelihood (=they need it in order to make money to live).
rely on something/somebody to depend on something or someone to do or provide what you need, especially because you have no choice
In rural areas, many people rely on public transport.
She’d never wanted to rely on a man for money.
count on something to depend on something that you expect to happen
Their government was counting on American support.
I’m counting on getting a pay rise next year.
lean on somebody to depend on someone for support and encouragement, especially at a difficult time
We all need a good friend that we can lean on.
When her husband died, she leant on Mike for support.
Examples from the Corpus
depend• "Are you going to apply for that job?" "Well, it depends."• We still don't know whether we'll have to move to a new house or not - it all depends.• I might not be able to go to France - it depends how much it costs.• The differences in opiniondepend largely on where economists look for evidence.• Just how high rents will risedepends on location.• The amount I earndepends on the kind of work I'm doing.• The length of time spent in hospitaldepends on the method used, but it can be as little as one day.• Newco's optionsdepend on these factors, as well as on the time available and the financialstrength of the vendor.• Consumers may find prices higher or lower than average, depending on where they buy gas.• The appropriatesteps will varydepending upon the clinicalcircumstances.• What happens depends upon what both prisoners do, and neither knows what the other has done.• It depends very much on the units you choose.
Origindepend
(1400-1500)Frenchdépendre, from Latinpendere“to hang”