Es kommt darauf an
Example: Es kommt darauf an, ob das Wetter schön ist.
Definition
"Es kommt darauf an" is a German expression used to indicate that the outcome or decision depends on certain conditions or factors. It means that something is contingent or conditional, as in 'Es kommt darauf an, ob das Wetter schön ist'—it depends on whether the weather is nice.
Etymology
The phrase "es kommt darauf an" literally translates to 'it comes upon it' in English. It combines the verb 'kommen' (to come) with the adverbial phrase 'darauf an,' meaning 'on that.' This expression has been used in German to convey dependence or contingency, much like the English phrase 'it depends.' Did you know? The construction reflects a way of focusing attention on the factor that influences the outcome.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Es kommt darauf an" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select German as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
