возвращать vs вернуть

vozvrashchat vs vernut — return/give back regularly vs return/give back once

What it really means

Возвраща́ть is imperfective for returning something repeatedly, gradually, or as a process. Верну́ть is perfective for giving something back once or restoring it. These transitive verbs concern an object; возвра́щаться and верну́ться mean return oneself.

Examples in natural speech

Я всегда возвращаю книги вовремя.
I always return books on time.
Магазин возвращает деньги покупателю.
The shop is refunding the customer.
Верни мне книгу завтра.
Give me the book back tomorrow.
Он вернул ключи хозяину.
He returned the keys to the owner.
Нам вернули деньги.
We were given our money back.

Common mistakes

Do not use вернуть for “come back” without an object. Say вернуться домой. Вернуть requires something that is given back, restored, or returned.

Memory tip

Вернуть returns a thing once; вернуться returns yourself.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between вернуть and вернуться?

Вернуть is transitive: return something. Вернуться is reflexive: return yourself, come back.

How do you say give it back?

Say Верни это. The perfective imperative asks for one completed return.

Can возвращать mean refund?

Yes. Возвращать деньги means refund money, while вернуть деньги can mean give one refund.

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