"depends" vs "it depends"

Question

"depends" vs "it depends"

Both 'it depends' and 'depends' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'It depends' is a complete sentence where 'it' is a pronoun referring to a situation or context, while 'depends' is a fragment that can be used in a conversation where the subject is understood.

Last Updated: March 11, 2024

Use 'depends' in a conversation where the subject is understood, and the context makes it clear what the dependency is.

Examples:

Can you finish the report by tomorrow? Depends on how much time I have.
Are you coming to the party? Depends on my schedule.

Alternatives:

It's contingent
It's conditional
It's reliant
It's hinged
It's based

Use 'it depends' as a complete sentence to indicate that the outcome or decision is influenced by certain factors or conditions.

Examples:

Should we go to the beach today? It depends on the weather.
Will you be able to finish the project on time? It depends on how much help I get.

Alternatives:

It's up in the air
It's uncertain
It's contingent
It's undecided
It's indeterminate

Answer 1

depends

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

it depends

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"depends" vs "it depends"

depends

it depends

Related Comparisons