Phrasal verb
bear on
Definition
phrasal verb. to be connected to or have an effect on a situation.
phrasal verb. to be relevant to or have a direct influence on a matter under consideration; often used in formal or legal contexts.
Examples
“These new facts bear on the case.”
“The judge ruled that the witness's personal history did not bear on the current trial.”
“The committee must determine how these international trade regulations bear on the domestic manufacturing sector before drafting the final report.”
Examples
simple
“These new facts bear on the case.”
contextual
“The judge ruled that the witness's personal history did not bear on the current trial.”
complex
“The committee must determine how these international trade regulations bear on the domestic manufacturing sector before drafting the final report.”
Usage
usually used in the present tense and followed by a noun representing a topic or decision.
Teaching tip
this is a formal alternative to 'relate to' or 'affect'; it is frequently found in academic writing and formal debates.
Pitfall
This evidence bears to the problem.
This evidence bears on the problem.
the verb 'bear' requires the preposition 'on' to mean relevance; 'to' is incorrect in this context.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
bear + on + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/bear-on