Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. Learn More

Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. Learn More

intend on doing?

“I intend on doing something about that”

Just came across this in the latest Baldacci novel.

First time I’ve seen this particular form so I’m not sure if it was a slip by author, editor, proof-reader, typesetter, or all of the above; or is it common in some parts of the English speaking world?

I’d think that “I intend to do ...........” or “I am intent on doing .........” would be the normal form.

Submit Your Comment

or fill in the name and email fields below:

Comments

with the use of "on" (i intend on) the form should be intent with on, or , intend with to.
so i intend to...
or
i am intent on..
.
of course, in casual conversation, anything can come out.

steve3 Jan-26-2013

2 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

Although I would not say it sounds wrong, its grammar, which is what you're issue is, is odd, but I think has something to do with "doing". I think in this phrase "doing" is a gerund with gerundial object of "something". Thus, in breaking the constituents up, leads to:

(I intend) (on doing something) (about that)

The first part being the subject and verb package and the rest being prepositions.

Jasper Dec-30-2012

1 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

It's common in speech and speechlike writing, according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage.

goofy Dec-30-2012

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

@goofy

I must admit that does surprise me.

user106928 Dec-30-2012

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Actually, MWDEU doesn't say it's common, it says "sometimes". But I think it's a normal expression round my way.

goofy Dec-30-2012

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

New Fowler's calls it non-standard informal American usage. As well as "intend" + to-infinitive, both Fowlers and MWDEU give "intend" + gerund as a standard usage - "I intend taking my holiday at home this year". I would have thought this probably just started as a crossover between "intend doing" and "be intent on doing".

Warsaw Will Dec-31-2012

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Whoops, your not you're.

Jasper Dec-31-2012

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

I know, Jasper. This forum needs an 'edit'.

Skeeter Lewis Dec-31-2012

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Seconded, or rather, thirded (sic)

Warsaw Will Jan-01-2013

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

And Happy New Year, everyone.

Warsaw Will Jan-01-2013

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Happy New Year, Warsaw WIll and everyone else!

Anyway, I found this for "Intend on", which appears to be a colloquialism:

http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/intendon.html

However, I don't see anything wrong with it; after all, it implies the same thing.

Jasper Jan-01-2013

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Do you have a question? Submit your question here