did you meant to say/did you mean to say

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Lunchbox

#268222 Sun, 17 Sep 06 07:01 AM

Hi, this time I've searched for it first before making a post, but I didn't find anything related to what I want to ask, so here it is! Thanks!

"I had no idea there are so many Japanese language schools here..."

"I had no idea there were so many Japanese language schools here..."

Shouldn't I use "there are" since the "Japanese language schools" referenced to are still in existence when I make that statement?

And also,

"Did you meant to say..."

and

"Did you mean to say..."

I hear "Did you mean to say" much more often than the first phrase, even though the whole sentence had happened in the past, why do we say "did you MEAN to say," with mean being in the present tense? Also then, would "had you meant to say" be the most formal way?

As always, thanks for the help!!!!!!!!

Lunchbox

Joined on Wed, Sep 13 2006

New Member (39)

Tenses, Present tenses, Language schools

Yoong Liat

#268225 Sun, 17 Sep 06 07:17 AM

"I had no idea there are so many Japanese language schools here..."

"I had no idea there were so many Japanese language schools here..."

The first sentence is correct because the sentence starts with "I had" ( a verb in the past tense). You say "I didn't know you were here" although the person referred to is there when you said that sentence.

"Did you meant to say..."

"Did you mean to say..."

The second sentence is correct. The verb after "Did" should be "mean" (present tense). This is one of the rules of grammar.

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,006)

Yoong Liat

Grammar, Verbs, Tenses, Present tenses, Past tenses, Language schools

Clive

#268233 Sun, 17 Sep 06 07:46 AM

Hi,

"Did you mean to say..."

The second sentence is correct. The verb after "Did" should be "mean" (present tense). This is one of the rules of grammar. It's really the 'bare' infinitive, rather than the present tense. That's a better way to think of it, otherwise you're liable to confuse yourself as to why past tense and present tense are being 'used together'.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (21,181)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Grammar, Verbs, Tenses, Present tenses, Past tenses

Cool Breeze

#268235 Sun, 17 Sep 06 07:48 AM

Yoong Liat wrote:
"I had no idea there are so many Japanese language schools here..."

"I had no idea there were so many Japanese language schools here..."

The first sentence is correct because the sentence starts with "I had" ( a verb in the past tense). You say "I didn't know you were here" although the person referred to is there when you said that sentence.

"Did you meant to say..."

"Did you mean to say..."

The second sentence is correct. The verb after "Did" should be "mean" (present tense). This is one of the rules of grammar.

"I had no idea there are so many Japanese language schools here..."

"I had no idea there were so many Japanese language schools here..."
Both sentences are correct but the second one is in keeping with the sequence of tenses and thus preferred by many.

"Did you mean to say..."
Correct, but 'mean' is not in the present tense. It is a plain infinitive, in other words, an infinitive without 'to'. The plain infinitive must be used because of the auxiliary 'do', which is in the past tense. Cf. I did know he said so.

Cheers
CB

Cool Breeze

Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006

Helsinki, Finland

Senior Member (2,851)

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.- Mark Twain

Grammar, Verbs, Tenses, Auxiliaries, Present tenses, Past tenses, Language schools

Lunchbox

#268258 Sun, 17 Sep 06 08:52 AM

Oh wow, thanks everybody!! So it's called a bare infinitive, that's great, thanks!!

I guess I might as well ask another question I have in this thread:

Eg)

I had been eating when Bob arrived.
I was eating when Bob arrived.

The "was" and "had been" are both past perfect, are they not? Because if "was" is meant as a past simple, that wouldn't make any sense at all! However, I've seen "I was eating when Bob arrived" used as an example of past perfect in a grammar book before.

What's the difference between, "I had always been very shy as a child" and "I was always very shy as a child"?

or in this example,

But I sent them (the pictures) anyway, without telling neither my family nor my friends, thinking that "if I become famous I'll invent a more glamorous story for the press..." and if I had been rejected, it would have saved my honour.

Shouldn't it be "if I were rejected, it would have saved my honour"?

Thanks!! =D

Lunchbox

Grammar, Difference between, Past perfect, Past simple

Yoong Liat

#268359 Sun, 17 Sep 06 01:39 PM

(1) "I had no idea there are so many Japanese language schools here..."

(2) "I had no idea there were so many Japanese language schools here..."

According to Cool Breeze, both sentences are correct but the second one is in keeping with the sequence of tenses and thus preferred by many.

To me:

The first sentence is correct because the sentence starts with "I had" ( a verb in the past tense). You say "I didn't know you were (not are) here" although the person referred to is there when you said that sentence.

I don't know what other members think of our views. Comments welcome.

Yoong Liat

Verbs, Tenses, Past tenses, Language schools

Marius Hancu

#268377 Sun, 17 Sep 06 02:42 PM

"I had no idea there are so many Japanese language schools here..."

"I had no idea there were so many Japanese language schools here..."

Cool Breeze is the one right: both are correct.

The 1st one emphasises that this situation is still valid now.

Read my quotations from Jespersen, to my mind the god of English grammar, in:

Post:224523

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Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Grammar, English grammar, Language schools

Clive

#268445 Sun, 17 Sep 06 05:45 PM

Hi,

I guess I might as well ask another question I have in this thread: It would make life simpler if you started another thread, I think. It makes the discussion easier to follow, and to respond to. OK?

Eg)

I had been eating when Bob arrived.
I was eating when Bob arrived.

The "was" and "had been" are both past perfect, are they not? Because if "was" is meant as a past simple, that wouldn't make any sense at all! However, I've seen "I was eating when Bob arrived" used as an example of past perfect in a grammar book before. I think you misinterpreted what you read. 'I was eating' is Past Continuous', not Past Perfect.

What's the difference between, "I had always been very shy as a child" and "I was always very shy as a child"?

#1 is Past Perfect. It refers to a time in the past when you had the result of being shy as a child. eg "When I met Mary, I didn't know what to say to her. I had always been very shy as a child".

#2 is Simple Past. It just states a fact about the past.

or in this example, . . . I think the same comments would apply to your next example, although I don't find your meaning completely clear.

If you have more questions, please start a new thread.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Grammar, Difference between, Past perfect, Simple past, Past simple