Which preposition follows depend in standard usage?

Which preposition follows depend in standard usage?

• A. on
• B. upon
• C. to
• D. with

Answer: (A)

Think about how depend carries meaning: you’re relying on something. The natural way to express that reliance in standard usage is to follow depend with on. So you say you depend on the weather, you depend on a friend, you depend on evidence. A slightly older or more formal variant exists with depend upon, but in everyday, formal writing today the preferred choice is on. Prepositions like to or with don’t convey this sense of reliance, and depend upon tends to sound more formal or archaic.

Think about how depend carries meaning: you’re relying on something. The natural way to express that reliance in standard usage is to follow depend with on. So you say you depend on the weather, you depend on a friend, you depend on evidence. A slightly older or more formal variant exists with depend upon, but in everyday, formal writing today the preferred choice is on. Prepositions like to or with don’t convey this sense of reliance, and depend upon tends to sound more formal or archaic.