planned to play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "planned to play" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing intentions or arrangements to engage in a game or performance in the future. Example: "We had planned to play soccer this weekend, but the weather forecast predicts rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He planned to play.

The New York Times

"I planned to play AT&T," Singh said.

The New York Times - Sports

Team officials said Sunday that Taurasi planned to play.

The New York Times - Sports

Scott had only planned to play Feick 18 minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

Jeter said he planned to play Tuesday in Boston, but Rodriguez is questionable for the series.

The New York Times - Sports

She said she planned to play in the Pac-10 tournament.

The New York Times - Sports

Coughlin planned to play his starters 15 to 18 plays on Monday night.

The New York Times

Mr. Kaplan had not planned to play an outdoor performance that night.

The New York Times

They had planned to play together in the Silver Ribbon Pairs early in the tournament.

The New York Times

Still, Mr. Gingrich insisted that he planned to play nice in Tampa.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Sandoval had planned to play for Magallanes for several weeks this winter.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "planned to play" when you want to express a prior intention or arrangement to participate in a game, performance, or other activity. Ensure the context clearly indicates who made the plan and what they intended to play.

Common error

Avoid using "planning to play" when referring to a completed plan. "Planned to play" indicates that the plan was made in the past. Instead use the correct past tense, such as "They planned to play".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "planned to play" functions as an infinitive phrase, often acting as part of a verb phrase to indicate a past intention or arrangement. Ludwig examples show its use in reporting on scheduled events or personal intentions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Sports

36%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Travel

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "planned to play" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction indicating a past intention or arrangement. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to convey a previously made decision to participate in a game, event, or activity. Its usage is versatile, fitting both news and personal contexts. Keep in mind the importance of using the correct tense when referring to past intentions versus ongoing plans.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intended to play

Replaces "planned" with "intended", focusing more on the mental decision to play.

scheduled to play

Emphasizes the arrangement and timing aspects of the playing activity.

expected to play

Highlights anticipation or prediction of someone's participation.

aimed to play

Implies a goal or ambition to participate in the game or activity.

meant to play

Suggests an original intention or plan that might have been altered.

hoped to play

Expresses a wish or desire to participate, without certainty.

arranged to play

Focuses on the logistics and preparation involved in setting up the opportunity to play.

prepared to play

Highlights the readiness and state of preparedness for participating.

set out to play

Emphasizes the initiation and active pursuit of the playing activity.

aspired to play

Indicates a long-term ambition or desire to reach a level where playing is possible.

FAQs

How do I use "planned to play" in a sentence?

You can use "planned to play" to indicate a past intention to participate in an activity. For example, "He "planned to play" in the tournament, but he got injured."

What are some alternatives to "planned to play"?

Alternatives include "intended to play", "scheduled to play", or "expected to play", depending on the nuance you want to convey. For example, "She "intended to play", but had to cancel."

Is it correct to say "planning to play" instead of "planned to play"?

While "planning to play" is correct, it implies an ongoing process or future intention. "Planned to play" indicates a decision made in the past. Therefore, "He is "planning to play" next week" and "He "planned to play" last week, but couldn't" have different meanings.

What's the difference between "planned to play" and "was going to play"?

"Planned to play" emphasizes the intention or decision to participate, while "was going to play" can also imply a scheduled event or expectation. "He "planned to play", but something came up" highlights his decision. "He "was going to play", but got sick" emphasizes the expectation.