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 #2 (permalink) Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:46 am It means I want to |
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| ramakanth wrote: |
Correct answer: (a) means 'I want to'
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Torsten
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| #3 (permalink) Wed Aug 17, 2005 11:34 am It means I want to |
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| Torsten wrote: |
| ramakanth wrote: |
Correct answer: (a) means 'I want to'
_________________________
my answer is correct or not |
If you open your eyes you will see the correct answer to your question. |
Hi teacher
What is the difference between mean and signifies in this sentences? Can I use signifies instead of mean?
Thanks |
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Truong
Guest
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| #4 (permalink) Wed Aug 17, 2005 19:54 pm Mean signify |
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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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Alan
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| #5 (permalink) Thu Dec 21, 2006 2:10 am Mean vs. signify |
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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 |
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Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1392
Location: Japan
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| #6 (permalink) Thu Dec 21, 2006 6:55 am Mean vs. signify |
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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")
| Quote: |
| 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 ... |
That's right. In your example, Roberta makes a promise to her boss.
| Quote: |
| ... although she didn't want to or was not willing to do it at all. |
In your example, we don't know whether Roberta wanted to do it or not. You also cannot say that she was "not willling" to do it because if she were completely unwilling, she wouldn't agree (promise) to do it at all. It is possible that she wasn't terribly happy about being willing to do it, but your sentences don't tell us this either. The only thing that is clear is that she promises her boss to do what he has asked.
| Quote: |
| How could I understand this usage? |
You seem to understand the use of will to make a promise. 
Amy |
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Yankee
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| #7 (permalink) Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:21 am Mean vs. signify |
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Hi Amy,
You made my mind rest in peace again. Thank you very much indeed.
haihao |
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Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1392
Location: Japan
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| #8 (permalink) Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:13 am Mean vs. signify |
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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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Alan
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| Meaning of "cold feet" | Meaning of redundant |
