Phrasal Verb: Rely on

Rely on is a phrasal verb. This means it is made of two parts: a verb (rely) and a preposition (on). In English, some phrasal verbs can be split up. You might put a word in the middle. But rely on is different! It is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means rely and on are best friends. They must stay together. You cannot say "I rely my friend on." That sounds very confusing to a native speaker! You must always keep them side-by-side. Also, this verb is transitive. That is a fancy way of saying it needs an object. You cannot just say "I rely." Your listener will ask, "On what?" You always need to name the person or thing you are talking about. It is like a puzzle piece that needs a match to be complete.

1. 1Building a sentence with rely on is like following a simple recipe. Here is the step-by-step guide:
2. 2Start with the Subject: This is the person who needs help (I, You, We, They, He, She, It).
3. 3Add the Verb rely: Remember to change the form based on the subject. For He, She, or It, use relies. For the past, use relied.
4. 4Add the Particle on: This never changes. It is always on.
5. 5Add the Object: This is the person or thing being trusted.
6. 6Example: I (Subject) + rely (Verb) + on (Particle) + my alarm clock (Object).
7. 7Yes, even native speakers forget the 's' on relies sometimes, so don't worry too much! Just remember: if it is one person (not you), add that 's'.

Use rely on when there is a sense of necessity or trust.

• Daily Tools: Use it for things you need to function. "I rely on my glasses to see."
• Relationships: Use it for people you trust. "I rely on my sister for advice."
• Work Scenarios: Use it to show teamwork. "We rely on the marketing team for new ideas."
• Travel: Use it for schedules. "Travelers rely on the train to be on time."

Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Green light: Use it when you truly need something to succeed. It shows you are being realistic about how the world works. It is very common in job interviews when you want to show you are a team player!

Do not use rely on for things you simply like or enjoy. If you love pizza, you don't say "I rely on pizza" (unless you are a professional pizza taster!). Use "I like" or "I love" instead. Also, avoid using it for one-time events that don't require trust. If you buy a newspaper once, you don't rely on it. You only rely on it if you need it every single day to know the news. Finally, don't use it for physical weight. If you are sitting on a chair, you are just "sitting on" it. Rely on is about the *support* or *function* the thing provides, not just your physical body touching it.

One big mistake is forgetting the on. Many learners say, "I rely my parents." This sounds like you are doing something *to* your parents, not needing them. Always include the on! Another mistake is using the wrong preposition. You might want to say "rely in" or "rely at," but those are not correct. It is always on. Think of it like a light switch; it only works when it is "on"! Also, watch your spelling in the past tense. It is relied, not relyed. We change the 'y' to an 'i' because English likes to keep us on our toes!

You might know the word trust. Trust is a feeling in your heart. You can trust a stranger not to steal your bag, but you don't rely on them because they aren't helping you do anything. Rely on is more about action. Another similar phrase is depend on. These are very close! You can usually swap them. However, rely on often feels a bit more personal and human. Depend on can sound a bit more like a scientific fact, like "Plants depend on sunlight." You can use both, but rely on sounds great when talking about people.