Return usually takes to for destinations and from for origins. Other prepositions can appear in specific contexts but are not the standard complement of the verb.
Use return to for a destination or previous state, and return from for the place or activity someone comes back from. Return by often refers to a deadline or transport method. In and with usually introduce separate details rather than a fixed verb pattern.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Use to after return to show the destination or previous condition.
Use from to show the origin of the return.
By can show the latest time for returning or the method used.
With introduces who or what accompanies the subject. It is not the main complement selected by return.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
By does not normally introduce the place someone returns to.
✕ She returned by the office. ✓ She returned to the office.Return in usually refers to manner or time, not destination.
✕ They returned in Paris. ✓ They returned to Paris.From marks the starting point, while to marks the destination.
✕ We returned to Canada yesterday from home. ✓ We returned from home to Canada yesterday.Return normally needs to before a place.
✕ He returned school early. ✓ He returned to school early.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Return already includes the idea of going back, so return back is usually unnecessary.
It can be correct when in introduces time or manner, such as return in an hour or return in silence.
Yes. With can introduce a companion, as in She returned with her friend.
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