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Which one is correct, “intend on doing something” or “intend doing something”?
What’s the difference?
Which one is correct, “intend on doing something” or “intend doing something”?
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2 Him Answers
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The second is correct; the first is ungrammatical but can be corrected by replacing “intend” by “intent”.
Emeritus Professor Rodney Huddleston, co-author with Professor Geoffrey Pullum of “The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language”, Cambridge University Press, 2002.
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The difference is that “intend doing something” is simply not correct. “Intend to do something” would be the best way to say it, with “intend on doing something” being a little awkward here but acceptable.
1 Answer
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The correct form is “intend to do something.” Neither “intend on doing something” nor “intend doing something” is standard or grammatically correct in formal English.
The verb “intend” is typically followed by a to-infinitive, as in “I intend to visit Paris,” rather than a gerund (-ing form). This pattern is consistent across various examples: “She intends to start a business,” “They intend to travel next year.” Using “intend” with a gerund, as in “intend doing something,” does not follow standard grammar rules and is considered incorrect.
Regarding “intend on doing something,” this phrase is not recognized as standard in formal writing or speech. It is often a colloquial or dialectal variant influenced by the verb “insist on,” which does take the “on” preposition followed by a gerund. For example, “She insists on going to the party” is correct, and this influence sometimes causes people to say “intend on doing” informally. However, in standard English, “intend on doing” is awkward and best avoided.
The correct usage is simply “intend to do something.” Some confusion may arise because “intent” (the noun and adjective) can be used differently, and expressions like “intent on doing something” are grammatically correct, e.g., “He is intent on achieving his goals.” But that structure does not carry over to the verb “intend.”
In summary, use “intend to do something” for clear, standard English. Avoid “intend doing” and “intend on doing” as they are nonstandard or awkward.
The second is correct; the first is ungrammatical but can be corrected by replacing “intend” by “intent”.
Emeritus Professor Rodney Huddleston, co-author with Professor Geoffrey Pullum of “The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language”, Cambridge University Press, 2002.