0
Tenacious Learner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Synonyms for 'mean'. Unit 6

Hi Teachers,

Could you tell, if the given synonyms are appropriate to 'mean' according to the context of the sentence? If not could you tell me a better one?

“Oh, you mean that old lady whose husband died a few years ago?”

a) insinuate

b) refer to

Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

Not insinuate . The style is casual; do is omitted. " do you mean?

— CalifJim

  • Not insinuate .
  • The style is casual; do is omitted.
  • " do you mean?
  • = are you referring to?
  • There are a number of other fairly synonymous expressions available to you, but unfortunately, they are all inferior for being so clumsy: do you mean?
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

8 Answers
0
Not insinuate.

The style is casual; do is omitted. The complete form is "Oh, do you mean that old lady ...?"

do you mean? = are you referring to?

There are a number of other fairly synonymous expressions available to you, but unfortunately, they are all inferior for being so clumsy:

do you mean? =

do you intend to say?

are
0
0
Hi Jim,

Thank you for the reply. I didn't know about the possibilty of havig 'oh, do ...?'

I really makes sense.Emotion: wink
0
0
Thinking SpainI didn't know about the possibility ...
Yes. In very casual conversations, we sometimes leave out the initial do or are when asking questions.

I heard you bought a new car. You like it? (Do you like it?)

There's a concert tomorrow night. You going? (Are you going?)

I recommend agains
0
0
Hi Jim,

Thanks for the additional explanation.

CalifJimI recommend against students using these forms before they are well advanced in their studies of English!
I'll do the same with my students, but not because they are well advanced in their studies,
0
0
Does that mean you are going to change "You mean" to "Do you mean" in your text?

CJ
0
0
Hi Jim,

I can't change it. There's a CD for this text. The short stories I ask about is different. Some of them are mine and some others are changed just because I don't like them. They are from the early 70's. But be sure I'll tell them about it.

Best regards,

TS
0
0
I just thought of a better explanation. It's a statement used as a question. Sometimes we just use the word order of a statement and change the intonation to make it a question.

So the good news is that you can avoid talking about omitted "do" entirely.

CJ
0
0
CalifJimI just thought of a better explanation. It's a statement used as a question. Sometimes we just use the word order of a statement and change the intonation to make it a question.
I though so too. I told you in an early post.
0

Related Questions