What Does โReckon on sb doing sthโ Mean?
โReckon on sb doing sthโ means to expect or depend on someone to do something. It expresses a confident assumption that an action will happen.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โreckon on sb doing sthโ is common in English when talking about expectations. It shows that you trust or depend on someone to complete an action. Understanding the โreckon on sb doing sth meaningโ helps learners express certainty about future events involving others. This phrase is useful in everyday conversations, work, and planning. It often implies confidence or reliance on someoneโs ability or willingness to do something. Knowing how to use it correctly will make your English sound natural and clear.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: reckon on sb doing sth (reckon on somebody doing something)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To expect or depend on someone doing something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โReckon on sb doing sthโ is inseparable. You cannot separate โreckonโ and โonโ in this phrase.
It follows this pattern:
- reckon on + somebody + verb-ing
- Example: We reckon on him arriving early.
The verb after the person is always in the -ing form (gerund).
How to Use Reckon on sb doing sth?
Use this phrase when you want to say you expect or depend on someone to do something. It shows certainty or trust. It is often used in planning or predicting situations.
Example contexts:
- Work: โI reckon on my team finishing the report by Friday.โ
- Everyday: โWe reckon on Jane bringing the snacks.โ
Examples
Here are some natural examples of โreckon on sb doing sth in a sentenceโ:
- They reckon on the delivery arriving tomorrow morning.
- We reckon on Sarah helping us with the presentation.
- He reckons on his friends coming to the party.
- She reckons on the children finishing their homework before dinner.
- The manager reckons on the staff working overtime this weekend.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse โreckon on sb doing sthโ with other verbs or use the wrong verb form. Here are examples:
- Incorrect: I reckon on him to finish the job. (Wrong verb form)
- Correct: I reckon on him finishing the job.
- Incorrect: We reckon on him will come. (Wrong verb form)
- Correct: We reckon on him coming.
Differences / Synonyms
โReckon on sb doing sthโ is similar to โcount on sb doing sthโ or โdepend on sb doing sth.โ However, โreckon onโ is more about expectation based on planning or assumption.
- Count on sb doing sth: Emphasizes trust and reliability.
- Depend on sb doing sth: Focuses on necessity or requirement.
- Reckon on sb doing sth: Highlights expectation or assumption.
Common Collocations
People often use โreckon onโ with common verbs and nouns related to tasks, events, or help. Here are some collocations:
- Reckon on someone helping: expecting help from someone
- Reckon on someone arriving: expecting someone to come
- Reckon on finishing: expecting completion of work or tasks
- Reckon on doing something: general expectation of an action
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of reckon on sb doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โreckon on sb doing sthโ:
Anna: Do you think Mark will come to the meeting?
Ben: Yes, I reckon on him arriving early so we can start on time.
Anna: Great! Iโm counting on him to bring the reports.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- a) I reckon on her to finishing the project on time.
- b) I reckon on her finishing the project on time.
- c) I reckon on her finish the project on time.
Answer: b) I reckon on her finishing the project on time.
FAQ
- Q: Can I say โreckon on sb to do sthโ?
A: No, the correct form is โreckon on sb doing sthโ with the gerund.
- Q: Is โreckon onโ formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and suitable for both spoken and written English.
- Q: Can โreckon onโ be used with things, not people?
A: Yes, you can say โreckon on something happening.โ
- Q: What is the difference between โreckon onโ and โcount onโ?
A: โReckon onโ focuses on expectation, while โcount onโ emphasizes trust.
- Q: Is โreckon on sb doing sthโ separable?
A: No, it is inseparable; โonโ must always stay with โreckon.โ

