Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after adjectives

dependant with on, upon, and of

Dependant is chiefly a British spelling. It commonly takes on or the more formal upon. Dependant of is uncommon and usually avoided.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows dependant?

Use dependant on in most situations. Dependant upon is more formal. Dependant of is generally nonstandard in modern English.

The child is dependant on her parents.
Many charities are dependant upon donations.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
dependant on + person/thing

Showing reliance or support

Dependant on is the standard everyday pattern.

The company is dependant on overseas sales.
He became financially dependant on his family.
2
dependant upon + person/thing

Using a more formal style

Dependant upon has the same meaning as dependant on but sounds more formal.

Success is dependant upon careful planning.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
dependant on
She is dependant on public transport.
standard and common
dependant upon
The outcome is dependant upon funding.
formal equivalent of dependant on
dependant of
The project is dependant of local support.
generally nonstandard in modern English
dependent on
The child is dependent on his parents.
alternative spelling, especially common in American English

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using dependant of

Modern English normally uses on or upon after dependant.

✕ They are dependant of government aid. ✓ They are dependant on government aid.

Confusing dependant and dependent

Dependant is often a noun in British English, while dependent is more widely used as the adjective.

✕ She is dependant in American English writing. ✓ She is dependent in American English writing.

Using upon in very informal speech

Upon is grammatical but more formal than on.

✕ I'm dependant upon coffee every morning. ✓ I'm dependant on coffee every morning.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The village is dependant ___ tourism.
2. Their future is dependant ___ outside investment.
3. Which form is nonstandard in modern English? The company is dependant ___ local grants.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is dependant or dependent more common?

Dependent is more common internationally, especially in American English.

Can I use dependant upon?

Yes. It is correct but more formal than dependant on.

Is dependant of ever correct?

It is generally treated as nonstandard in modern English.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account