return
returns
returning
returned
Return means to go back or give back. Regular verb: return-returned-returned.
Meanings
- To go back
- To give back
- To come back to
Common Collocations
return home
return a call
return to normal
return the favor
Tip for Learners
Return can mean go back or give back. "Please return the book."
Present Simple
| I | return |
| you | return |
| he/she/it | returns |
| we | return |
| they | return |
Examples - Present Simple
- I return home at six every day.
- You return items within thirty days.
- She returns the favour whenever she can.
- We return your calls promptly.
- They return to their roots every summer.
Present Continuous
| I | am returning |
| you | are returning |
| he/she/it | is returning |
| we | are returning |
| they | are returning |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am returning this defective product.
- You are returning to your old ways.
- He is returning from abroad tomorrow.
- We are returning to the office next week.
- They are returning to work after the holiday.
Present Perfect
| I | have returned |
| you | have returned |
| he/she/it | has returned |
| we | have returned |
| they | have returned |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have returned the books to the library.
- You have returned my calls.
- She has returned from her trip.
- We have returned to profitability.
- They have returned the stolen goods.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been returning |
| you | have been returning |
| he/she/it | has been returning |
| we | have been returning |
| they | have been returning |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been returning to this place for years.
- You have been returning calls.
- He has been returning to form.
- We have been returning to our traditions.
- They have been returning in large numbers.
Past Simple
| I | returned |
| you | returned |
| he/she/it | returned |
| we | returned |
| they | returned |
Examples - Past Simple
- I returned the dress to the shop.
- You returned home late last night.
- She returned my smile.
- We returned to find the door open.
- They returned empty-handed.
Past Continuous
| I | was returning |
| you | were returning |
| he/she/it | was returning |
| we | were returning |
| they | were returning |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was returning home when I saw the accident.
- You were returning from the shops.
- He was returning to his old habits.
- We were returning from holiday.
- They were returning to the village.
Past Perfect
| I | had returned |
| you | had returned |
| he/she/it | had returned |
| we | had returned |
| they | had returned |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had returned before the storm hit.
- You had returned the money already.
- She had returned to work too soon.
- We had returned all the equipment.
- They had returned home safely.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been returning |
| you | had been returning |
| he/she/it | had been returning |
| we | had been returning |
| they | had been returning |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been returning to this café for years.
- You had been returning to your roots.
- He had been returning calls all morning.
- We had been returning to old methods.
- They had been returning every summer.
Future Simple
| I | will return |
| you | will return |
| he/she/it | will return |
| we | will return |
| they | will return |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will return your call shortly.
- You will return to normal soon.
- She will return next month.
- We will return your deposit.
- They will return with reinforcements.
Future Continuous
| I | will be returning |
| you | will be returning |
| he/she/it | will be returning |
| we | will be returning |
| they | will be returning |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be returning on Friday.
- You will be returning to work soon.
- He will be returning to the stage.
- We will be returning to this topic.
- They will be returning later.
Future Perfect
| I | will have returned |
| you | will have returned |
| he/she/it | will have returned |
| we | will have returned |
| they | will have returned |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have returned by dinner time.
- You will have returned to full health.
- She will have returned all the items.
- We will have returned to normal.
- They will have returned safely.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been returning |
| you | will have been returning |
| he/she/it | will have been returning |
| we | will have been returning |
| they | will have been returning |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been returning here for decades.
- You will have been returning regularly.
- He will have been returning to form.
- We will have been returning every year.
- They will have been returning annually.