（1）I meant to ring you but I'm afraid I forgot... (EED)
(2) These new orders for our manufactures will mean working overtime. (ALD)
上面两个例句选自权威的英语辞典,它们是否可以证明在 mean 之后既可接带 to 的动词不定式(to-v),亦可接动名词(v-ing)?
在动词 mean 之后接带 to 的动词不定式和接动名词, 意思是不一样的。当 mean 作“意欲”“打算”(intend to) 解时, 只能与带 to 的动词不定式连用, 而不能与动名词连用:
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I only meant to help. (URW) 我只是想帮忙。
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I don't mean to say we're perfect. (Lewis) 我并不打算说我们是完美无缺的。
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I'm sorry, Alison. I didn't mean to be rude to you. (Craig) 阿里逊, 真对不起, 我并不是故意对你粗暴无礼。
mean 作“意味着”解时, 只能接动名词, 而不能接动词原形:
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Success means working very hard. 成功意味着勤奋努力。
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Missing the train means waiting for an hour. 没赶上这趟火车就意味着要等上一个小时。
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This illness will mean going to hospital. 患这种病意味着要进医院。
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——I didn't mean ____ her. ——But talking like that means ____ her.
A. to hurt, to hurt B. hurting, hurting C. to hurt, hurting D. hurting, to hurt
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Closing the factory means ____ more workers out of work. A. to put B. put C. putting D. being put
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There's a man at the reception desk who seems very angry and I think he means ____ trouble. A. making B. to make C. to have made D. having made (全国四级,97.1-25)
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I didn't ____ to take a taxi but I had to as I was late.
A. mean B. assume C. hope D. suppose(全国四级,00.12-53)