Correct option is C
The correct substitution of the highlighted words is
(c) returned home.
Explanation: The verb
return already means
“go back”, so using
returned back is a
redundant (double) expression. Also, we generally say
“return home” (home acts as an adverb of place here), not “return to home” in standard English. Therefore, “returned home” is the most concise and grammatically correct replacement.
Grammatical rule used:
· Avoid redundancy:
return = go back, so
returned back is incorrect.
· Use:
return home / go home (no “to” before home in this sense).
·
Example: After the meeting, they returned home late at night.
·
Information booster / exceptions related to the topic:
· “Return to + noun” is correct when the place is a noun:
return to the city / return to the office.
· With
home, we usually drop “to”:
return home, go home, come home.