Regular verb
The verb to return
return → returned → returned
A2Meaning: to come or go back; to give something back · Type: regular · Frequency: Top 50 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
return / returns - Past Simple:
returned - Past participle:
returned - -ing form:
returning
Conjugation of the verb to return
Present Simple
| I | return |
| You | return |
| He / She / It | returns |
| We | return |
| You (pl.) | return |
| They | return |
Past Simple
| I | returned |
| You | returned |
| He / She / It | returned |
| We | returned |
| You (pl.) | returned |
| They | returned |
All the forms of the verb to return
Present Simple
Full pagereturn / returns
“I return home.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are returning
“I am returning the book to the library right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagereturned
“I returned the book.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were returning
“I was returning the book to the library when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has returned
“I have already returned the book to the library.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad returned
“She had already returned the book to the library when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill return
“I will return the book to the library tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to return
“I'm going to return the book to the library this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould return
“I would return the book to the library if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to return
1. Going back
- I returned home.
2. Giving something back
Return + a thing means to give or bring it back: return a book to the library.
- I returned the book.
A common mistake
1. Return only means to go back ❌
Return has other meanings too. The return key is the Enter key on a keyboard: Press return to start. In the UK, a return is also a ticket to go and come back.
Going further
Conjugating to return is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
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Practise on PLAYYou can conjugate to return. Now say it out loud.
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For teachersReady-made activities to practise to return in class
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Related pages: return
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of return?+
The Past Simple of return is returned. It is a regular verb: return + -ed.
Is it return or go back?+
Both have the same meaning, but the style is different. Return is more formal and common in writing. Go back is the everyday form. I returned to my office (formal). I went back to the office (everyday).
What is a return ticket?+
In the UK, a return (or a return ticket) is a ticket to go somewhere and come back. A return to London, please. In the US, people say a round-trip ticket. A ticket for one way only is a single (UK) or a one-way ticket (US).
What does return on investment mean?+
Return on investment (ROI) is the money you get back from something you paid for, like a project. It is business and money vocabulary: a good ROI means the project makes money.
What is the return key?+
The return key is the Enter key on a keyboard. You can also call it the Enter key. Press return means press Enter.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/return
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.