Will you ever say ' I'm meaning' or ' I was meaning'? Grammars will give instructions that you say ' I mean', ' I meant', but do not say ' I'm meaning', ' I was meaning' when 'mean' means ' intend to

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yhemusa

Will you ever say ' I'm meaning' or ' I was meaning'? Grammars will give instructions that you say ' I mean', ' I meant', but do not say ' I'm meaning', ' I was meaning' when 'mean' means ' intend to say' . And the uses of the latter are really much less than the former if you search. But I've found some uses of the former, acturlly, like ---- He is meaning the media. ---- I was meaning something more subtle. I think the 'logic' is when you are talking about a state, you say 'I mean/I meant', and when you are talking about an action, you say 'I'm meaning/I was meanig', just as the way you use 'think'. I think that... I'm thinking about the problem. But language is not all logical. So I'm wondering ● what you think about my 'logic'( if only you think it illogical, please do not hesitate to say no), or, if you think the use is correct and natural. ● if you have ever used 'mean' this way. ● if not ever used, what verbs, if any, you'd choose, or how you'll express the meaing of ' be meaning'.

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First of all, you’re correct about “I think” versus “I’m thinking.” I’ve been reading your posts, and I’d say you’ve developed quite a good insight into the English language. There certainly are situations when a verb of state refers to an action in progress, and naturally takes the continuous aspect. For example, “we’re having a party.” There are also cases were a verb of state can take the continuous or simple aspect, with little or no change in meaning: “How do you feel / are you feeling today?” There are also cases of poetic license, in order to emphasize the active nature of a state (if that makes sense): “I’m really wanting a beer right now,” or the Scorpions’ “Still loving you.” That being said, I can’t imagine ever using the verb “mean” in the continuous aspect. A better option, if you insist on using a verb in the continuous, might be “I’m trying to say.”

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Usually it is said after the statement I am amending. In this case, it usually is, "I meant..." if I am still attempting to find the words, I might say, "I'm trying to say..."

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