what is difference between "what does this mean" and "what is this mean"?

Carter Leewhat does this mean

OK.

Carter Leewhat is this mean"

Not possible.

Mister Micawber Carter Leewhat does this meanOK.Carter Leewhat is this mean"Not possible.

Thanks. but why not?

What is this meaning ? Is this possible?

Carter LeeWhat is this meaning ? Is this possible?

I can think of no possibility for it.

You keep asking 'why' in your posts. Please accept that the grammar of English, just like your own language, accepts certain structures and forbids others. It is as simple as that; there is no 'why'.

"Why?" is a valid question. It's just that the answer is often difficult to explain because we're so used to things being a certain way.

In general terms:

"What does..." is used to precede a verb, as in "What does he see?".

"What is..." usually precedes a noun, as in "What is that green animal"?

So "What does this mean?" is correct.

Anonymous"Why?" is a valid question.

I think that Mr M's intent was that in many, many cases, the answer to why will simply be because.

Carter Leebut why not?

Because be doesn’t take bare infinitival complements. The only auxiliaries that do are do and the modals (What would/could this mean?)

I do understand that, Philip; in which case, that should be the answer - rather than suggesting that people just stop asking the question!

In this particular case, there is a rule that will help a non-native speaker to choose the correct form of the sentence and so the question: "Why?" is valid.

Although my response was terse, I didn't intend to offend. It was only when I saw th

Anonymous"Why?" is a valid question. It's just that the answer is often difficult to explain because we're so used to things being a certain way.In general terms:"What does..." is used to precede a verb, as in "What does he see?"."What is..." usually precedes a noun, as in "What is that green animal"?So "What does this mean?" is correct.

Thanks for letting me.

Carter LeeHe write like this "why are you considering....?"Apparently this is not noun.

That is because the anonymous poster's response, "What is..." usually precedes a noun, was not correct.The verb BE can be followed by many parts of speech:

What is on the table?
What is happening?
What is often played by DJs?

fivejedjon Carter LeeHe write like this "why are you considering....?"Apparently this is not noun.That is because the anonymous poster's response, "What is..." usually precedes a noun, was not correct.The verb BE can be followed by many parts of speech:What is on the table?What is happening?What is often played by DJs?What is your name?What is to be done with Peter?What i