Return past tense

Meaning of return

to go or come back to a place or person.

Infinitive

Word: return /rɪˈtɜːn/

Examples:

1. Every summer, the birds return to this lake to nest.
2. He always returns my books slightly damaged.
3. If you find my wallet, please return it to me immediately.

Past Simple

Word: returned /rɪˈtɜrnd/

Examples:

1. She returned the book to the library on Monday.
2. He returned home late last night after the party.
3. We returned from our vacation feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Past Participle

Word: returned /rɪˈtɜːnd/

Examples:

1. The book has been returned to the library.
2. The missing items were returned by the kind stranger.
3. The feedback has been returned to the students.

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Bare infinitive

To express habitual actions or general truths.
Example. She returns from work at 6 pm every day.
Example. The train returns to the station at 3 pm.
Example. He returns home the same way every time.
Example. First, you return the item to the box.
For fixed arrangements, schedules, or timetables.
Example. She returns from work at 6 pm every day.
Example. The train returns to the station at 3 pm.
Example. He returns home the same way every time.
Example. First, you return the item to the box.
To describe characteristics, situations, and senses.
Example. She returns from work at 6 pm every day.
Example. The train returns to the station at 3 pm.
Example. He returns home the same way every time.
Example. First, you return the item to the box.
For giving instructions or directions.
Example. She returns from work at 6 pm every day.
Example. The train returns to the station at 3 pm.
Example. He returns home the same way every time.
Example. First, you return the item to the box.

Past Simple

To describe completed actions at a specific time in the past.
Example. She returned from work late last Tuesday.
Example. They returned the rental car, packed their bags, and left for the airport.
Example. When I was a kid, I returned home before dark.
Example. He returned to that cafe every Sunday before it closed down.
For a series of completed actions in the past.
Example. She returned from work late last Tuesday.
Example. They returned the rental car, packed their bags, and left for the airport.
Example. When I was a kid, I returned home before dark.
Example. He returned to that cafe every Sunday before it closed down.
To express habits in the past.
Example. She returned from work late last Tuesday.
Example. They returned the rental car, packed their bags, and left for the airport.
Example. When I was a kid, I returned home before dark.
Example. He returned to that cafe every Sunday before it closed down.
To describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.
Example. She returned from work late last Tuesday.
Example. They returned the rental car, packed their bags, and left for the airport.
Example. When I was a kid, I returned home before dark.
Example. He returned to that cafe every Sunday before it closed down.

Past Participle

Present perfect to describe actions or situations that occurred at an indefinite time in the past or actions/situations that started in the past and continue in the present.
Example. She has returned from her trip to France.
Example. They had already returned the money when I found out.
Example. By the end of the month, I will have returned all borrowed books.
Example. The book was returned to the library yesterday.
Past perfect to discuss an action that occurred before another action in the past.
Example. She has returned from her trip to France.
Example. They had already returned the money when I found out.
Example. By the end of the month, I will have returned all borrowed books.
Example. The book was returned to the library yesterday.
Future perfect to talk about actions that will be completed by a certain future point.
Example. She has returned from her trip to France.
Example. They had already returned the money when I found out.
Example. By the end of the month, I will have returned all borrowed books.
Example. The book was returned to the library yesterday.
Passive voice to describe an action that happens to the subject.
Example. She has returned from her trip to France.
Example. They had already returned the money when I found out.
Example. By the end of the month, I will have returned all borrowed books.
Example. The book was returned to the library yesterday.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing Forms

Simple Past Mistake. Many learners confuse the simple past form of 'return' with its past participle form. The simple past form is 'returned,' which is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, a common mistake is using the base form or an incorrect past form, such as 'I return the book yesterday,' instead of the correct 'I returned the book yesterday.' Past Participle Mistake. The past participle form of 'return' is also 'returned,' but it is often mistakenly replaced with incorrect forms in perfect tenses or passive voice constructions. A typical error is saying 'I have return the book' instead of the correct 'I have returned the book.' The past participle form should be used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses or passive voice sentences.

— 02

Omitting Auxiliary Verbs

Perfect Tenses Mistake. A common mistake is omitting the auxiliary verb when using 'returned' in perfect tenses, leading to grammatically incorrect sentences. Learners might say 'I returned the book last week' when they mean to use the present perfect tense to indicate an action that has relevance to the present, which should be 'I have returned the book last week' (though note that using 'last week' with the present perfect is another common error due to the time specificity better suited to the simple past). Passive Voice Mistake. Similarly, forgetting to use the auxiliary verb 'be' in passive voice sentences that involve 'returned' leads to errors. For instance, 'The book was returned by me yesterday' is correct, but learners might incorrectly say 'The book returned by me yesterday,' omitting the necessary form of 'be.'

— 03

Misusing 'Returned'

Intransitive Verb Mistake. 'Return' can be used both transitively and intransitively, but a common mistake is using its past forms incorrectly with intransitive structures. For example, correctly saying 'I returned home late last night' does not require an object. However, errors arise when learners treat intransitive uses like transitive ones, leading to awkward constructions, or vice versa, such as misunderstanding the need for an object in sentences like 'I returned it to the library,' where 'it' is necessary to clarify what was returned.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'return'?

The past simple form of 'return' is 'returned.' This form is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, 'I returned home late last night.'

What is the past participle form of 'return'?

The past participle form of 'return' is also 'returned.' This form is used in perfect tenses and passive voice. For example, in the present perfect tense. 'I have returned all the library books.' In the passive voice. 'The books were returned on time.'

How do I use 'returned' in a sentence to indicate a repeated action in the past?

To indicate a repeated action in the past, you can use 'returned' with expressions of time such as 'often,' 'every day,' or 'every year.' For example, 'When I was a child, I returned to my grandparents' house every summer.' This implies that the action of returning was repeated over several summers.

Can 'returned' be used in both active and passive sentences?

Yes, 'returned' can be used in both active and passive sentences. In an active sentence, the subject performs the action, e.g., 'She returned the book to the library.' In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action, e.g., 'The book was returned to the library by her.' Both sentences use the past simple or past participle form of 'return,' depending on the structure and tense of the sentence.