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 #2 (permalink) Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:13 am Occupied |
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Hi Ling,
This means to keep someone busy or active. If you have very lively children, it can be a problem during the school holidays to keep them occupied - busy doing things.
Alan
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| #3 (permalink) Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:28 am What means vs. what does it mean |
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I have just read Ling's question and it occurred to me that we often confuse 'what means' with 'what does it mean'. I think, 'what means' is not a question but a clause as in:
Yesterday I got a pay raise which means I can fly to Miami.
The question would be What does a pay raise mean to you?
Is this correct?
Nicole
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Nicole
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| #4 (permalink) Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:54 am Question form |
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Hi Nicole,
You asked:
| Quote: |
I have just read Ling's question and it occurred to me that we often confuse 'what means' with 'what does it mean'. I think, 'what means' is not a question but a clause as in:
Yesterday I got a pay raise which means I can fly to Miami.
The question would be What does a pay raise mean to you?
Is this correct? |
Yes, you're quite right as in:
I know what you mean.
I don't know. What do you mean?
Incidentally, I would prefer rise but I know someone who will opt for raise.
Alan
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| #5 (permalink) Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:44 am What means vs. what does it mean |
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| Nicole wrote: |
I have just read Ling's question and it occurred to me that we often confuse 'what means' with 'what does it mean'. I think, 'what means' is not a question but a clause as in:
Yesterday I got a pay raise which means I can fly to Miami.
The question would be What does a pay raise mean to you?
Is this correct?
Nicole |
Are you sure you cannot use the phrases 'what means/what mean' in questions? You come across it often enough to make you wonder. OK, you can't say 'what mean you', for example. But questions like: 'What means life?' sound correct to me. In fact, it would mean: 'What is the sense of living?. Whereas 'What does life mean' can also simply refer to the definition of the word 'life'. |
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Conchita
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| #6 (permalink) Fri Apr 07, 2006 11:19 am Mean |
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Hi Conchita,
Don't really think so. I agree it tends to be accepted because you hear it so often but it's still not good grammar.
is really a no no. To me that would be better as: What's the meaning of life?
Second thoughts on the matter - you often hear: What you mean? because the do/d is swallowed.
Alan
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| #7 (permalink) Fri Apr 07, 2006 19:09 pm What gives? |
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Hi Alan, thank you for supporting me  .
I think if means occurs in a subclause of a question it is correct:
I wonder what life means to you.
But if you ask direct it should read What does life mean to you.
But then there are other weird phrase like What gives?
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| Difference between bilk, swindler, betrayer, quack? | Sentence: jack can carry candor too far... |
