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Couldn't/can't/meant/mean

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Latest post Sat, Feb 21 2009 7:20 AM by Jeannie1. 3 replies.
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User_gary  +  675748 Thu, 19 Feb 09 11:42 AM
I couldn't get what you mean by this?
I couldn't get what you meant by this?
I can't get what you meant by this?
I can't get what you mean by this?

Please correct my sentences.
User_gary
Joined on Fri, Jan 5 2007
Senior Member 2,582
Honesty is the best policy
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Jeannie1, 279 days ago
User_gary
“I couldn't get what you mean by this?
I couldn't get what you meant by this?      this is used when it is in the past. eg.  When I read this yesterday, I couldn't get what you meant by this.

I can't get what you meant by this?    ..is incorrect, you are mixing present "can't get" (for "cannot get" ) with past "meant".
I can't get what you mean by this?     ..when it is now that you can't understand what is meant.


Please correct my sentences.
”
User_gary  +  677093 Sat, 21 Feb 09 01:40 AM
Thank you friend.

Do you mean the below sentence is correct?

I couldn't get what you mean by this?

But I wonder why it is correct when there are mixtures of past "could" and present "mean".
User_gary
, , ,
Jeannie1  +  677258 Sat, 21 Feb 09 07:20 AM
Sorry, I missed the first sentence.  It is incorrect, your further logic is correct, it should be "I couldn't get what you meant by this?"
Jeannie1
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