depende
/deh-PEHN-deh/
It depends
When asked a question, sometimes the answer is simply, 'It depends.'
depende(Interjection)
It depends
?Used as a complete and often evasive answer.
That depends
?Confirming conditionality.
📝 In Action
¿Vienes a la fiesta el sábado? — Depende.
A1Are you coming to the party on Saturday? — It depends.
¿Podemos terminar esto hoy? — Depende de si llega el material.
A2Can we finish this today? — It depends on whether the material arrives.
💡 Grammar Points
A Complete Answer
When used alone, 'depende' is a complete thought. It is the third-person form (like saying 'it depends'), but you do not need to say 'Ello depende.' Just say 'Depende.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Add 'Es'
Mistake: "Es depende."
Correction: Depende. The verb already means 'It depends,' so adding 'es' (is) is redundant and incorrect.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding the Condition
When you specify what it depends on, always use the connector 'de' (of/on): 'Depende de la hora' (It depends on the time).
The ability of the flower to stand straight 'depends' on the wooden stake for support.
depende(Verb)
depends
?Third-person singular present tense ('he/she/it depends').
relies
?To count on someone or something.
📝 In Action
Mi felicidad no depende del dinero.
B1My happiness does not depend on money.
La luz depende de la energía solar.
B2The light relies on solar energy.
💡 Grammar Points
Regular Verb Pattern
'Depender' is a regular '-er' verb, which means it follows the standard pattern for conjugating verbs that end in '-er' in all tenses.
Using 'Depende'
The word 'depende' is the form used for 'he, she, it,' and the formal 'you.' Example: 'Ella depende de su coche' (She depends on her car).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: depende
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'depende' correctly as a standalone answer?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Spanish speakers sometimes say 'Depende' instead of 'Dependo' when they mean 'I depend on...'?
They use 'Depende' because they are answering a general question by implying 'The situation depends' or 'It depends.' If you want to say 'I depend on you,' you must use the first-person conjugation: 'Yo dependo de ti.'
Does 'depende' require any special words after it?
Yes. When you specify what something depends *on*, Spanish almost always uses the preposition 'de' (of/on) directly after the verb, forming the key phrase 'depende de...'