Episode 80: Believe In, Depend On

Verb + preposition — Faith Stories (B1-B2)

Grammar Box

Meaning: Many verbs require specific prepositions to complete their meaning. These verb + preposition combinations are fixed — you must learn which preposition pairs with which verb.

Form: Verb + preposition + noun/gerund. “Believe in justice,” “depend on friends,” “care about others.” The preposition is essential to the verb’s meaning and cannot be changed.

Example 1: “Throughout history, people who believed in change and fought for justice depended on each other to succeed.” (Fixed combinations.)

Example 2: “They cared about future generations, hoped for better conditions, and insisted on equal rights.” (Each verb has its specific preposition.)

Common mistake: Wrong: “I believe to change.” Better: “I believe in change.” (Believe takes “in,” not “to,” when expressing faith or conviction.)

The Challenge

Luna compared sentences. “Professor, why ‘believe in’ but ‘trust someone’ with no preposition? And why ‘depend on’ but ‘rely on’ — they mean the same thing but use the same preposition? How do I know which verbs need prepositions?”

The watch glowed with deep conviction. Professor Wisdom appeared with solemn dignity. “These combinations express the deepest human experiences — faith, trust, values. Let me show you moments when people’s beliefs and dependencies defined their choices.”

The Journey

Throughout history, transformative movements began when individuals believed in possibilities that others dismissed. Rosa Parks believed in human dignity, insisted on equal treatment, and refused to give up her seat. She belonged to a community that cared about justice, fought against oppression, and depended on each other for strength when institutions failed them.

Mahatma Gandhi believed in nonviolence, relied on moral force rather than weapons, and counted on the British eventually recognizing the injustice of colonialism. He cared deeply about India’s poor, thought about their suffering constantly, and worked for independence that would benefit everyone, not just the elite. He listened to his conscience, appealed to universal values, and succeeded in liberating a nation without firing a shot.

Martin Luther King Jr. believed in the American promise of equality, dreamed of a time when character mattered more than color, and called for justice that seemed impossible to many. He depended on supporters who shared his vision, counted on their courage during dangerous protests, and relied on their faith when violence threatened to destroy the movement. He cared about children who would inherit whatever world his generation built.

Mother Teresa believed in serving the poorest of the poor, devoted herself to caring for the dying in Calcutta’s streets, and insisted on treating every person with dignity. She belonged to no political party, campaigned for no social movement, yet succeeded in changing how millions thought about poverty. She worried about individual suffering more than systemic change, focused on personal service rather than political protest, yet millions heard about her work and questioned their own priorities.

Malala Yousafzai believed in education for girls, spoke out against those who opposed it, and paid for her conviction with a bullet to her head. She survived and continued fighting for what she believed in. She depended on family support, counted on international attention to protect her, and succeeded in becoming the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. She cared more about Pakistan’s future than her own safety.

These individuals shared certain patterns: they believed in principles larger than themselves, cared about others’ welfare more than their own comfort, and insisted on change even when success seemed impossible. They relied on inner conviction when outer support failed, depended on allies who shared their vision, and succeeded in ways they couldn’t have imagined when they started.

The Deep Dive

Verb + preposition combinations are fixed expressions that must be memorized. Believe in means have faith in something’s existence or value: “I believe in democracy.” Just “believe” with no preposition means accept as true: “I believe you” (I accept what you say is true). The preposition completely changes the meaning.

Depend on and rely on are synonyms with the same preposition. Count on is similar. But trust takes no preposition when talking about people: “I trust you” (not “trust in you” in modern English, though “trust in” appears in older texts and religious contexts like “trust in God”).

Common patterns: about for topics/concerns (care about, worry about, think about, talk about). on/upon for dependency (depend on, rely on, count on, insist on). for for purposes/goals (hope for, ask for, wait for, fight for, campaign for). in for belief/participation (believe in, succeed in, participate in, result in). to for direction/relation (listen to, belong to, apply to, lead to).

After these verb + preposition combinations, use gerunds (-ing forms) when a verb follows: “insisted on going,” “succeeded in changing,” “believed in helping.” Never use infinitive: not “insisted on to go.”

More Examples

History: “Suffragettes believed in women’s rights, fought for voting equality, and insisted on recognition despite being arrested for their protests.”

Science: “Scientists depend on funding, rely on peer review, and succeed in advancing knowledge by building on previous discoveries rather than working in isolation.”

Everyday: “I care about my family, worry about their health, and depend on them for support while they count on me to be there when needed.”

Formal: “Researchers must adhere to ethical standards, account for all variables, and refrain from publishing results until peer review confirms methodology and conclusions.”

Informal: “My friend believes in astrology, insists on checking horoscopes daily, and relies on cosmic guidance for decisions that I think about more rationally.”

Contrast: “I believe you” (accept as true) vs. “I believe in you” (have faith in your abilities) — preposition changes meaning entirely.

Practice & Reflection

Exercises:

1. Fill in the blank: “Throughout history, people who believed _ justice and cared others depended __ each other to succeed _____ changing society.”

2. Correct the mistake: “Gandhi believed to nonviolence, insisted in peaceful protest, and succeeded to liberate India.”

3. Choose and explain: Which is correct?
   a) “I believe you.” (I accept what you say.)
   b) “I believe in you.” (I have faith in your abilities.)

4. Rewrite: Add appropriate prepositions: “She cared ___ education, fought ___ equal access, and succeeded ___ opening schools for girls.”

5. Compare: What’s the difference? “think about the problem” vs. “think of a solution.”

6. Your reflection: Describe your values and relationships using at least five different verb + preposition combinations (believe in, care about, depend on, etc.).

Answer Key:
1. in… about… on… in — each verb has its specific preposition
2. “believed in,” “insisted on,” “succeeded in” — these are the correct fixed combinations
3. Both are correct but mean different things — (a) = accept truth; (b) = have faith in abilities
4. cared about, fought for, succeeded in — fixed combinations
5. “Think about” = consider/contemplate; “think of” = come up with/create — different meanings
6. Check: Believe in, care about, depend on, rely on, fight for, hope for, succeed in, insist on? Followed by gerunds if verb follows?

The Lesson

Luna wrote with growing confidence. “I believe in the power of education. I care about improving my English. I depend on good teachers like you, Professor. I’m succeeding in learning these patterns because I’ve insisted on practicing daily. I’m hoping for fluency, working for progress, and I belong to a global community of learners who support each other.”

“Beautiful,” Professor Wisdom said with evident pride. “You’ve used these combinations naturally, and more importantly, you’ve expressed genuine values. That’s what these verb + preposition patterns allow — the articulation of belief, care, dependence, and commitment. These aren’t just grammar; they’re how we express what matters most.”

“So when I learn to say ‘I believe in something’ or ‘I care about something,’ I’m learning to express my values in English?” Luna asked.

“Exactly. Rosa Parks believed in dignity. Gandhi relied on truth. King fought for justice. Malala insisted on education. These combinations aren’t arbitrary — they’ve evolved because they express the precise relationships between people and their principles. When you master verb + preposition patterns, you’re not just learning grammar. You’re learning to express conviction, commitment, and character.”

Luna smiled. “I started this journey wondering about grammar rules. I’m ending it understanding that grammar helps us express who we are and what we believe in.”

“And that,” Professor Wisdom replied, “is what I hoped for when we started. You’ve succeeded in understanding not just the patterns, but their purpose. You’ve come to care about language in a deeper way. That’s the real achievement.”

The watch glowed one final time, warmly, as if in agreement.