Mean + gerundio esprime quale sarà la conseguenza di un'azione oppure cosa sarà necessario. Il verbo mean può essere sostituito dal verbo involve.
Esempi
- If you take that job in London it will mean travelling for two hours every day.
- We could take the ferry to France, but that will mean spending a night in a hotel.
- Buying this jacket now means not buying another until next year.
- Leaving school would mean finding a job.
Mean + infinito esprime un'intenzione o un piano. Il verbo mean può essere sostituito dal verbo intend.
Esempi
- Did you mean to dial this number?
- mean to finish this job by the end of the week!
- I didn't mean to hurt you.
- I meant to return the books on time.