upon whom we depend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon whom we depend" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe someone who is important to you, in terms of their support, or the resources they provide. For example: Our success depends on our teachers, upon whom we depend for knowledge and guidance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Like teen-agers, we rebel against the caretaker upon whom we depend too completely.

The New Yorker

"We must act now to protect our affordable housing stock, or this city will become too expensive for the firefighters, police officers, teachers, nurses and so many other valued members of the work force upon whom we depend".

The New York Times

And in response to the bombings in London in July and the terrorist threat, it is right to do all we can to support our police, armed forces and security and emergency services whose bravery we commend and upon whom we depend each and every day for our safety.

The Guardian - Money

But what exactly did American intelligence learn at the price of (once again) discrediting our government, compromising citizens' privacy, making reporters collateral damage, and, as the facts inevitably spilled out, embarrassing and annoying the allies upon whom we depend for cooperation?

The New York Times

I smelled a rat here when Henry Waxman, upon whom we depend to uncover the malfeasance of the Bush administration, proposed a limitation of $2 million.

Huffington Post

And yet more may be explained if you consider how many of the leaders (and others) upon whom we depend have other Antisocial Personality Disorders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder) - "approximately 4percentt of the population suffers from "Sociopathy".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Then, we each took a ball of yarn and threw it to a person upon whom we depended to do our jobs, who then threw it to another person.

TechCrunch

We have a bit of respite in each other's company to savor, to give thanks for the good food and for the earth that nourishes us, as well as for the farmers and farm laborers (often underpaid and invisible) upon whom we all depend.

Huffington Post

I keep thinking so, then keep encountering mastery, moments of quintessence and transcendence focused into individual artworks, as often as not realized by people who have realized such moments before - indeed, people upon whom we have come to depend for such moments.

Huffington Post

It is difficult to ignore the correlation between increasing publishing pressures, reduced budgets, fears around the seemingly relentless marketisation of higher education, and the belief that Western Europe's universities are becoming more stressful, less attractive places for those academics upon whom they depend.

The Guardian

Over the years, and against a backdrop of civil war and the rise of the Taliban, a bond develops between Mariam and Laila as they become allies in a personal war against their husband, a man they despise for his violence but upon whom they depend for survival.The book works well on several levels.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "upon whom we depend", ensure the sentence structure clearly indicates who is depending on whom to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "upon who" in place of "upon whom". "Whom" is the objective case pronoun, required after a preposition like "upon". While colloquial English might sometimes skip this distinction, formal writing demands correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon whom we depend" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or pronoun by specifying those individuals or entities that are essential for support or assistance. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase highlights the importance of those being relied upon.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "upon whom we depend" is a formal expression used to indicate reliance on certain individuals or entities for support or assistance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for formal contexts. While less frequent in everyday conversation, it is often found in news articles and official documents, emphasizing the importance and critical role of those being depended upon. When using this phrase, it is crucial to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity to convey the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on whom we rely

Replaces "depend" with the synonym "rely", maintaining the preposition and structure.

whom we count on

Uses the phrasal verb "count on" instead of "depend", changing the preposition.

whom we are reliant on

Transforms "depend" into the adjective "reliant", requiring a change in verb structure.

whom we lean on

Employs the metaphorical "lean on" to convey reliance, altering the tone slightly.

those we trust

Shifts the focus to trust as the basis of dependence, simplifying the sentence structure.

those who support us

Highlights the support aspect of dependence, using a more general term.

those we bank on

Uses the informal "bank on" to express reliance, changing the register.

those we place our faith in

Conveys a deeper level of trust and dependence, using more formal language.

those we are indebted to

Highlights the obligation associated with dependence, altering the emphasis.

people essential to us

Focuses on the essential nature of the relationship, simplifying the structure and vocabulary.

FAQs

How can I use "upon whom we depend" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to describe individuals or entities that are crucial to our support, success, or well-being. For example, "Our success depends on our teachers, "upon whom we depend" for knowledge and guidance".

What are some alternatives to "upon whom we depend"?

You can use alternatives like "on whom we rely", "whom we count on", or "those we trust", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "upon who we depend"?

No, "upon who we depend" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""upon whom we depend"" because "whom" is the objective case pronoun required after the preposition "upon".

What is the difference between "upon whom we depend" and "who we depend on"?

"Upon whom we depend" is more formal than "who we depend on". While both convey the same meaning, the former is preferred in formal writing and speech, while the latter is more common in casual contexts.