What Does “Count upon sth” Mean?
“Count upon sth” means to rely on or trust something or someone to help or support you.
Introduction
The phrase “count upon sth” is a useful English phrasal verb that means to depend on or trust something firmly. When you count upon something, you believe it will happen or be available when you need it. This expression is often used in both formal and informal contexts, such as trusting a friend’s help or relying on a plan to work out. Understanding the count upon sth meaning helps learners express confidence or expectation clearly. Using this phrase correctly can improve your communication, especially when talking about support, trust, or certainty.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: count upon something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to rely on or trust something or someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Count upon” is an inseparable phrasal verb, which means you cannot place the object between “count” and “upon.” The object always follows the preposition “upon.”
Correct pattern: count + upon + something/someone
Incorrect pattern: count + something + upon
How to Use “Count upon sth”?
Use “count upon” when you want to express trust or reliance on a person, thing, or situation. It often refers to something dependable or certain. For example, you can count upon someone’s support during difficult times, or count upon good weather for an outdoor event.
This phrase is commonly used in formal writing, business communication, and everyday speech. It is interchangeable with “depend on” or “rely on,” but “count upon” sounds slightly more formal or old-fashioned.
Examples
- You can always count upon her to help when you need advice.
- We count upon the team’s experience to win the game.
- He counted upon the information being correct before making a decision.
- Farmers count upon rain during the planting season.
- Count upon me to be there on time for the meeting.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I count the support upon him.
Correct: I count upon his support. - Incorrect: She counts upon always help.
Correct: She counts upon help always. - Incorrect: We count upon the plan to success.
Correct: We count upon the plan to succeed.
Differences / Synonyms
Count upon vs. Depend on: Both mean to rely on something. “Count upon” is more formal and less common in everyday speech than “depend on.”
Count upon vs. Rely on: Similar meaning. “Rely on” is more widely used and sounds natural in casual conversations.
Count upon vs. Trust: “Trust” focuses more on belief in honesty or ability, while “count upon” emphasizes certainty and reliability.
Common Collocations
- count upon support
- count upon help
- count upon someone’s advice
- count upon resources
- count upon success
- count upon cooperation
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of count upon sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Can I count upon you to finish the report by Friday?
Ben: Yes, you can count upon me. I’ll have it ready on time.
Anna: That’s great! I really need your support for this project.
Ben: Don’t worry. You can always count upon me.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “count upon”:
- We __________ the new software to improve productivity.
- Can I __________ your help during the event?
- She always __________ her friends in difficult situations.
FAQs
- What does “count upon sth” mean?
It means to rely on or trust something or someone.
- Is “count upon” formal or informal?
It is more formal or literary than similar phrases like “rely on.”
- Can I use “count upon” with people and things?
Yes, you can count upon both people and things.
- Is “count upon” separable?
No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb.
- What are some synonyms for “count upon”?
Synonyms include “depend on,” “rely on,” and “trust.”
