Mean

Understanding

We use mean to explain or ask what a word or phrase refers to. We form questions with mean with the auxiliary verb do:

What does ‘strike’ mean?

Not: What means ‘strike’?

We don’t normally use mean in the continuous form when we are talking about expressing ideas:

What does that sign mean?

Not: What is that sign meaning?

Talking about intentions

We use mean to clarify something that we have said or to explain what we intended to say:

A:

You have to take the road by the church.

B:

Which church?

A:

Here’s whatImean, Lynn: there are two roads ahead. Take the right-hand road.

We use mean followed by a to-infinitive to express intentions:

Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.

I meant to call you before I left. I forgot.

We often use keep meaning to for longer-term intentions:

I’ve got to go to the dentist. I keep meaning to make an appointment.

Talking about significance

We use mean to say that something is important or significant:

The bracelet meant a lot to her. It had belonged to her grandmother.

Does this name mean anything to you?

Mean: result in

We can use mean + noun to talk about one thing resulting in another:

Higher fuel prices will mean higher airfares. (will result in or involve)

Talking about necessity or obligation

We use mean + -ing form to talk about something necessary or the result of something:

I’ll have to catch the 7 am train to Nottingham, which means getting up at 5 am. (I need to get up at 5 am.)

We also use the passive be meant to to express obligation. It has a similar meaning to ‘be supposed to’:

Why are you watching TV? You’re meant to be working.

See also:

Modality: expressions with be

Mean by

We can use mean by to ask what somebody is specifically thinking of when they use a word or phrase:

A:

We don’t want to discourage her from studying.

B:

It depends what youmean by‘discourage’.

A:

Well, I mean make her think we can’t afford to pay for her.

Means(noun)

Even though it ends in an ‘s’, means is a singular noun. We use a singular verb with it. We use it to talk about a method of doing something:

The most economical means of travelling to Aberdeen is by plane. (the most economical method or way)

Not: … most economical mean … or … most economical means are …

I mean

We use I mean very commonly in speaking as a discourse marker. We use it when we want to add to what we have just said, to make a point clearer or to correct what we have just said:

The law is not fair. I mean, it’s just not right that he didn’t go to prison. (adding)

It cost over £200. I mean, that’s more than most of us can afford. (making something clearer)

We need to ask Helen, I mean Harriet. (correcting)

We often use I mean when hesitating, to make something negative less strong or to soften a disagreement:

A:

What do you think of Ben?

B:

Well, I mean, he’s not very confident and not always sure what he’s supposed to be doing.

I think Peter probably has a strong view about that. It’s interesting … I mean I … what I said earlier and I mean Peter might disagree with me.

When we are not sure what to say, we sometimes use I mean. We often pause before or after it:

She’s not coming back, er I mean, erm … she and I have broken up.

We don’t use I mean to introduce opinions. It is not the same as I think:

I think we should stay at the Lakeside Inn.

Not: I mean we should stay at the Lakeside Inn.

You know what I mean

We often use the phrase you know what I mean (or if you know what I mean or do you know what I mean?) in speaking, to check that our listener understands what we are saying or to show that we assume the listener has the same opinion about something:

A:

I just can’t go to Norah’s house.

B:

Why’s that?

A:

I just don’t like all the cats. You know what I mean?They’re everywhere even in the beds.

B:

Yeah, I have to say I’m not a fan of cats either. (A is checking that B understands that she doesn’t like all the cats in Norah’s house and she assumes that B is going to understand)

Ken isn’t very helpful, if you know what I mean.

We’ve got white on the walls in the back room now, but I think he feels as though, pink is not the right colour for the front room, do you know what I mean?

See also:

Discourse markers (so, right, okay)

Mean: typical errors

We use auxiliary do in questions with mean:

What does ‘rosehip’ mean?

Not: What means ‘rosehip’?

We don’t use I mean to introduce opinions:

I think people shouldn’t start university until they are 20.

Not: I mean people shouldn’t …

Means is a singular noun. We use a singular verb with it:

A very relaxing means of transport is the train.

Not: … very relaxing mean of transport are the train.

• maligners
• malignest
• maligning
• malignities
• malignity
• malignly
• maligns
• malinger
• malingered
• malingerer
• malingerers
• malingering
• malingerings
• malingers
• mall
• mallard
• mallards
• malleabilities
• malleability
• malleable
• malleableness
• malleabler
• malleablest
• malled
• mallee
• NBA为主题的最值得看的美剧排行榜（探索篮球魅力的15部精彩美剧）
• 提升足球抢点速度的技巧（成为点球王的关键要素）
• 提升室内足球跑位技巧的绝佳指南（掌握关键技巧，成为优秀的室内足球运动员）
• 《游泳自由式滑手技巧之娴熟掌握，优雅前行》（以游泳自由式滑手技巧口诀为主题，教你如何高效游泳）
• NBA历届得分王排行榜
• 足球名场面技巧（揭秘足坛经典战术和绝技，实力出众的关键法宝）
• 中考游泳技巧男生学什么？（培养男生游泳技巧的关键是什么？）
• 游泳池捡东西技巧（绝密技巧揭秘，提高游泳池捡东西的效率）
• 简单实用的足球过人技巧（提高足球技术水平的关键方法）
• 足球调色技巧教学大全（从入门到高级，打造个性化足球风格）
• 美佳香食品厂 乳酸菌吐司的热量有多少卡路里
• 知味观 蜂蜜黑芝麻饼的热量有多少卡路里
• 云青 平遥牛肉 牛腱肉 [原味]的热量有多少卡路里
• 巨诺 富硒魔芋蛋卷的热量有多少卡路里
• 福谷香 白吐司的热量有多少卡路里
• 宝桑园 桑葚果干30g的热量有多少卡路里
• 疆里疆外 红色版的热量有多少卡路里
• 麦街 全麦经典三明治的热量有多少卡路里
• 象大厨 布蕾糯米糍的热量有多少卡路里
• 沂蒙公社 黄金地瓜条500克 帆布袋款的热量有多少卡路里