Intend Doing vs. Intend To Do
Both patterns can express a plan, but they are not equally neutral across varieties. Oxford marks “intend doing” as British English while giving “intend to do” without that regional restriction.
“Intend to do” is the general standard pattern. “Intend doing” is also documented by Oxford, but specifically as British English.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| general standard expression of a planned action | intend to + verb | Use “intend to do.” |
| documented British alternative in suitable contexts | intend + -ing | “Intend doing” is documented in British English; keep the regional boundary explicit. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Do you need the broadly standard form across varieties of English?
If yes: Use “intend to + verb.”
If no: Use “intend + -ing” only when the British-English pattern fits the audience and context.
Caveat: The -ing construction is documented but regionally bounded; do not present it as the default everywhere.
Examples
We intend to publish the revision in October.
The to-infinitive is the general standard pattern.
I intend to call after lunch.
The intended future action follows “to.”
They intend staying for another week.
The -ing form is a documented British-English alternative.
Further guidance
Decision
For international or variety-neutral prose, the to-infinitive is the safer default; retain the -ing form when British usage is intended and natural.
General Pattern
Use intend + to-infinitive as the broadly applicable form for stating a plan or purpose.
Regional Pattern
Intend + -ing is documented in British English, so it should not be labelled universally wrong.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- intend — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries · Intend with general to-infinitive pattern and British-English -ing pattern