Depend as a static or dynamic verb?

Question

Hi all.I read these two examples in a grammar text book:1. It depends what you mean.2. Bill, I'm depending on you to win this contract for us. In sentence 1, they say "depend" is a static verb, which means it cannot be used in  continuous tenses. In sentence 2, they say "depend" is a dynamic verb, so it can be used in both present simple and present continuous.The problem is I can't distinguish any difference in meaning of the word "depend" in these two sentences. Could anyone help me clarify this? And if possible, could anyone give me some more similar examples? Thank you in advance.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I'm an ESL teacher and I have this same question. I'm a little surprised that no one has answered this yet. There are other examples of stative verbs that are commonly used in the continuous form. Like rely, hope, feel and forget.

I'm forgetting his name right now.
I'm hoping that we can get there before dark.
I'm relying on you.
He is feeling ill today.

I think this may just be an example of the dynamic nature of language. Native speakers are used to verbs like have, be, think, and hear, which are used correctly in the continuous form, so why not other verbs? It makes sense because the usage of the continuous puts the verb in a dynamic or active state.

For example:
I think politics is boring.
We wouldn't say:
I'm thinking politics is boring.
Not when we mean it as an opinion we ordinarily hold. But if we were watching a bunch of pundits on TV we might say in response:
I'm thinking politics is boring.
Because we are having the thought at the present time. (Even this previous sentence in the use of 'have' shows how in a dynamic sense this is correct, as it is with the verb 'have.'

So I think that when we use stative verbs in the continuous form it is because it reflects a present and dynamic state, or a state that is occurring presently and represents something new. This is opposed to the use of stative verbs where the state has been established for sometime and is expected to continue. For example "I love him."

Anonymous · Answer

Perhaps the following explains the difference. Please let me know if I'm wrong.

1) You depend on someone to do something (dynamic). For example:
I depend on you to help me out / I'm depending on you to help me out

2) You depend on something/someone (stative). For example:
I depend on my parents financially (you can't support yourself)

Depend as a static or dynamic verb?

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