dipendano

Dipendano is the present subjunctive form of the Italian verb dipendere, used for the third person plural. It corresponds to the indicative dipendono but appears in clauses that require the subjunctive mood. As a regular -ere verb, the present subjunctive endings are dipenda, dipenda, dipenda, dipendiamo, dipendiate, dipendano.

In usage, dipendano occurs in subordinate clauses introduced by verbs or expressions that trigger the subjunctive, such as those expressing doubt, possibility, desire, necessity, or emotion, and after certain conjunctions. Examples include: “Non è certo che i risultati dipendano da una sola variabile,” “Spero che i costi dipendano da fattori esterni,” and “È possibile che dipendano da decisioni comuni.” The form is more common in formal or written Italian; in everyday speech speakers might use the indicative dipendono in contexts where the speaker regards the outcome as more certain, or rephrase to avoid the subjunctive.

Etymology and related forms: dipendere comes from Latin dependere, formed from de- (“from, away”) and pendere (“to hang, to weigh”). The shift from a literal sense of hanging to “to depend” reflects the figurative sense of being weighed or influenced by something else. Related forms include dipende (third person singular present indicative) and dipendono (third person plural present indicative), as well as the other present subjunctive forms dipenda, dipendiamo, dipendiate.

Summary: dipendano is a grammatical form used to express dependent or contingent actions in Italian, occurring in subordinate clauses that require the subjunctive mood.