Mean + to infinitve / mean + gerund

Question

I have learned that 'mean + to infinitive' means to intend to do something, while 'mean + gerund' means to have a particular result or meaning. But, someone told me that there is no significant difference between two of them. Can anyone tell me whether the two sentences below have no difference or not?

1. A morality of healthy selfishness means to act in your own self-interest without hurting anyone.

1. A morality of healthy selfishness means acting in your own self-interest without hurting anyone.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Joon2257I have learned that 'mean + to infinitive' means to intend to do something

This is not exactly correct. "mean" + to infinitive can mean to intend to do something. It would, of course, have to have an animate subject in this case. ("a morality of healthy selfishness" is not animate.)

Did I say 'Acapulco'? I meant to say 'armadillo'!
You left your keys in the bedroom. Did you mean to do that?

It can also have its more frequent meaning of "denote", "convey the same sense as", whether followed by an infinitive or a gerund. (This is the meaning in both of your examples.)

Love means never having to say you're sorry.
To take away means to remove or to subtract.

In the case of your examples, I prefer the one with the gerund, and I think most native speakers would choose that one as the better of the two.

CJ

Mean + to infinitve / mean + gerund

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