Confusing words explained
“intend” vs “pretend” — What’s the Difference?
Intend means to plan something seriously; pretend means to act as if something is true when it is not.
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: intend vs pretend
Intend means to plan something seriously; pretend means to act as if something is true when it is not.
intend vs pretend Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of intend
To have a plan or purpose in mind; to mean to do something.
To plan or decide that you will do something; to have something as your goal.
Use 'intend to' + verb or 'intend for' + noun. Example: 'She intends to graduate' or 'I intend this gift for you.'
- I intend to travel to Japan next summer for my vacation.
- The government intends to reduce carbon emissions by 2030.
Meaning of pretend
To act as if something is true when you know it is not; to make believe.
To act or behave as though something is real or true when it is not.
Pretend can be followed by infinitive (pretend to do) or that-clause.
- The children pretend to be superheroes in the park.
- He pretended to be sick so he could stay home.
Usage Notes & Nuance
intend: Used when explaining your plans: 'I intend to graduate next year' or in formal contexts 'The policy intends to address poverty'.
pretend: Children often use pretend play for learning and development.
How to Remember the Difference
Intend = sincere plan; pretend = false act (acting as if).
Common Mistakes with intend and pretend
Mistake with intend
Wrong: I intend going to university next year.
Correct: I intend to go to university next year.
After intend, use infinitive to go, not gerund going.
Mistake with intend
Wrong: He intends fix the car himself.
Correct: He intends to fix the car himself.
Include 'to' before the verb form to create proper to-infinitive structure.
Mistake with pretend
Wrong: She pretend to be sleeping when her mother came home.
Correct: She pretended to be sleeping when her mother came home.
Simple past tense needs -ed form 'pretended' not base form
Mistake with pretend
Wrong: He is pretending sick yesterday.
Correct: He pretended to be sick yesterday.
Use past tense 'pretended' with 'yesterday'; or 'is pretending' now
Practice Quiz: intend or pretend?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
I _____ to travel to Japan next summer for my vacation.
Question 2
The children _____ to be superheroes in the park.
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 2
Frequently Asked Questions About intend vs pretend
What’s the difference between “intend” and “pretend”?
Intend means to plan something seriously; pretend means to act as if something is true when it is not.
When should I use “intend”?
Use 'intend to' + verb or 'intend for' + noun. Example: 'She intends to graduate' or 'I intend this gift for you.'
When should I use “pretend”?
Pretend can be followed by infinitive (pretend to do) or that-clause.
How can I remember intend vs pretend?
Intend = sincere plan; pretend = false act (acting as if).
Is it “intend” or “pretend” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.