ENGLISH
REFERENCE

count on

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to trust or rely on someone to help you or do what they promised.

phr. v.. to rely on someone or something with confidence; to anticipate a specific outcome as certain.


SIMPLE

You can always count on me for help.

CONTEXTUAL

The team is counting on their star player to score the winning goal in the final match.

COMPLEX

In times of economic instability, investors often count on gold to maintain its value while other assets fluctuate wildly.

Particles
on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
count + on + object
Usage

always followed by an object, which can be a person, a thing, or a gerund.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'depend on' (more neutral/functional) and 'rely on' (slightly more formal); 'count on' often implies a personal expectation of loyalty or reliability.

Pitfall

I count on you for help me.I count on you to help me.when followed by an action, use the 'to + infinitive' structure or 'on + -ing' form.

© 2026 English Reference