Mean vs. signify

ramakanth · Sun Feb 13, 2005 12:34 pm *Mean vs. signify*

Test No. incompl/inter-20 "Will or Shall?", question 4

The main difference is that 'I will' ..........

(a) means 'I want to'
(b) signifies 'I want to'
(c) shows 'I want to'
(d) says 'I want to'

Test No. incompl/inter-20 "Will or Shall?", answer 4

The main difference is that 'I will' means 'I want to'.

Correct answer: (a) means 'I want to'
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my answer is correct or not?

ramakanth

Torsten · Sun Feb 13, 2005 12:46 pm *It means I want to*

Truong · Wed Aug 17, 2005 12:34 pm *It means I want to*

Alan · Wed Aug 17, 2005 20:54 pm *Mean signify*

Mean is used in the sense of explaining a word or a sentence as in: What does this word mean? or What do you mean when you say that?

Signify has more the sense of indicate and goes deeper into the meaning of a word/statement or series of events.
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Haihao · Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:10 am *Mean vs. signify*

Hi,

I am still confused with 'will' from time to time. I had learned at first at school that it could be used for simple future tense. Then I got to know it could mean 'be willing to'. Today I see from the test that it means 'want to'. But I have got a very simple conversation between two persons as below:

Boss: Make sure it's to be done by noon, will you?
Roberta: Yes, sir, I will.

It gives me a kind of sense of promise Roberta gave to her boss that she would make it because she had to take the orders from her boss although she didn't want to or was not willing to do it at all. How could I understand this usage?

haihao

Yankee · Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:55 am *Mean vs. signify*

Hi Haihao

You've correctly noticed that will has a number of different usages. I'd summarize them this way:
- to predict the future (based on incomplete or relatively little information)
- to show willingness
- to promise something
- to express a decision to do something at the moment the decision is made ("spontaneous decision")

Haihao · Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:21 am *Mean vs. signify*

Hi Amy,

You made my mind rest in peace again. Thank you very much indeed.

haihao

Alan · Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:13 am *Mean vs. signify*

HI,

You might like to read some material I've written for the site on expressing the future:

Grammar Lesson: Future Tense
http://www.english-test.net/lessons/20/index.html

A
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