'Pretend' does NOT mean to try or aim for something. That is 'intend'.
Verb. To act as if something is true when it is not. To fake or simulate.
She pretended to be sick to stay home.
Ella fingió estar enferma para quedarse en casa.
Stop pretending you understand if you don't.
Deja de fingir que entiendes si no es así.
The kids love to pretend they are superheroes.
A los niños les encanta fingir que son superhéroes.
Verb. To plan or mean to do something. To have a purpose or goal in mind.
I intend to finish this project by Friday.
Pretendo terminar este proyecto para el viernes.
What do you intend to do about it?
¿Qué pretendes hacer al respecto?
She intends to study medicine.
Ella pretende estudiar medicina.
Common mistake
Saying 'I pretend to study harder' when you mean you plan to. In English, 'pretend' means to fake. Wrong: "I pretend to improve my English." (correct: I intend to improve my English.)
Trick to remember it
'PREtend' sounds like Spanish 'PREtender' but is a false friend. It means to fake. 'INTend' relates to INTention. When you would say 'pretendo hacer algo' in Spanish (meaning 'I plan to'), use 'intend' in English.
Quick rule
Are you faking something that is not real? Use 'pretend'. Do you have a plan or intention to do something? Use 'intend'.
Did you know?
'Pretend' comes from Latin 'praetendere' (to stretch forward, to hold out as a pretext). In Spanish, 'pretender' evolved to mean 'to aim for or attempt'. In English, the word shifted to 'to simulate or fake'. Same Latin root, opposite meanings in both languages.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She _____ to finish the report before the deadline.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
He _____ to be sick to avoid going to school.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Are you faking something that is not real? Use 'pretend'. Do you have a plan or intention to do something? Use 'intend'.
Saying 'I pretend to study harder' when you mean you plan to. In English, 'pretend' means to fake. Wrong: "I pretend to improve my English." (correct: I intend to improve my English.)
'PREtend' sounds like Spanish 'PREtender' but is a false friend. It means to fake. 'INTend' relates to INTention. When you would say 'pretendo hacer algo' in Spanish (meaning 'I plan to'), use 'intend' in English.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy