intends to return

USAGE SUMMARY

"intends to return" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing someone's plans or aspirations to come back to a place or situation. Example: She intends to return to her hometown after finishing her studies. Alternative expressions include "plans to return" and "aims to return."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She intends to return to France.

The New Yorker

He intends to return this year.

The New York Times

It is not clear when he intends to return.

The Economist

Still, he now intends to return the money to Kasowitz.

The New Yorker

And that is where he intends to return.

The Guardian

Azango intends to return to Liberia to continue her work.

The Guardian

He said he intends to return but many doubt it.

The Guardian - Sport

She said she intends to return to hosting after the election at the end of 2012.

The New York Times

This band says North Korea no longer intends to return to the table.

The Economist

"I think they sold far more" than the province intends to return, Mr. Yang said.

The New York Times

Mr. Nielsen intends to return to Lourdes to spend more time seeking out others like him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with specific timeframes like "next year" or "soon" to provide more context to the intention.

Common error

Do not use the gerund form after "intends" in this specific context; saying "intends returning" is less common and often sounds awkward in standard English. Stick to the infinitive to return for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intends to return" functions as a complex verb phrase where "intends" serves as the finite matrix verb and "to return" is its infinitive complement. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to express a future action that is currently planned or targeted by the subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Informal Speech

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "intends to return" is a robust and highly frequent English phrase used to denote a subject's commitment to a future homecoming or reinstatement. Ludwig AI confirms that it is favored by prestigious media outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian for its clarity and professional tone. It is almost always used with the infinitive "to return" rather than the gerund. Writers should use this phrase when they want to convey a planned action rather than just a vague wish, making it an essential tool for formal reporting and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plans to return

Suggests a more concrete logistical preparation for the action

aims to return

Focuses on the return as a specific goal or objective

intends to go back

Uses the phrasal verb go back for a slightly more natural tone

is planning to return

Uses the continuous aspect to suggest ongoing preparation

expects to return

Emphasizes the likelihood or anticipation of the event

wants to return

Focuses on personal desire rather than a formal stated intent

means to return

Suggests an internal purpose or underlying intention

proposes to return

Slightly more formal and often used in official or legal contexts

will return

A more definitive future statement without the nuance of intent

hopes to return

Adds a layer of uncertainty or aspiration to the intent

FAQs

How to use "intends to return" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a person's or organization's plans, such as "The diplomat "intends to return" to the negotiation table next week" or "NASA "intends to return" to Jupiter in a decade".

What can I say instead of "intends to return"?

Depending on the context, you can use "<a href="/s/plans+to+return" target="_blank" rel="alternative">plans to return", "<a href="/s/aims+to+return" target="_blank" rel="alternative">aims to return" or "<a href="/s/expects+to+return" target="_blank" rel="alternative">expects to return".

Is "intends to return" formal?

Yes, it is considered neutral to formal and is frequently seen in high-quality publications like The New York Times and The Economist to describe political or professional movements.

What is the difference between "intends to return" and "wants to return"?

While "<a href="/s/wants+to+return" target="_blank" rel="alternative">wants to return" expresses a personal wish, "intends to return" implies a more serious commitment or a formal plan to actually carry out the action.