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Jooney Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
Be meant to do something vs. be meant for something
Hi,
I'd like to know the difference in meaning between these two phrases.
be meant to do something: to be intended to do something/be supposed to do something
ex) Tissues are meant to be used once.
ex) Laptops are meant to be portable and I don't see how a heavy 17 inch notebook is portable.
ex) The iphone 4s is meant to be faster than the iphone 4.
be meant for something: to be intended for a particular person or purpose
ex) The book is meant for children.
ex) The second dirty secret is the misconception that outlet merchandise was originally meant for a real store.
I'd appreciate your help.
I'd like to know the difference in meaning between these two phrases.
be meant to do something: to be intended to do something/be supposed to do something
ex) Tissues are meant to be used once.
ex) Laptops are meant to be portable and I don't see how a heavy 17 inch notebook is portable.
ex) The iphone 4s is meant to be faster than the iphone 4.
be meant for something: to be intended for a particular person or purpose
ex) The book is meant for children.
ex) The second dirty secret is the misconception that outlet merchandise was originally meant for a real store.
I'd appreciate your help.
Top answer
I think that in some cases they are different structures to say the same thing, though one or the other may be better in specific collocations. 'To do' obviously indicates its intended action, while 'for something' can indicate either the activity (the noun form of the action) or the purpose (even though your 2nd definition does not indicate the former). Therefore,'to do' is not synonymous and cannot be used when 'purpose' is meant.
- I think that in some cases they are different structures to say the same thing, though one or the other may be better in specific collocations.
- 'To do' obviously indicates its intended action, while 'for something' can indicate either the activity (the noun form of the action) or the purpose (even though your 2nd definition does not indicate the former).
- Therefore,'to do' is not synonymous and cannot be used when 'purpose' is meant.
- Nevertheless, I can reverse all of your examples without harm to any of their meanings: be meant to do something : to be intended to do something/be supposed to do something ex) The book is meant to be read by children.
- ex) The second dirty secret is the misconception that outlet merchandise was originally meant to be sold in a real store.
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2 Answers
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I think that in some cases they are different structures to say the same thing, though one or the other may be better in specific collocations. 'To do' obviously indicates its intended action, while 'for something' can indicate either the activity (the noun form of the action) or the purpose (even though your 2nd definition does not indicate the former). Therefore,'to do' is not synonymous and c
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