meant

meant — verb

1. the form of the verb 'mean' used to describe past actions, intentions, or states

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

the form of the verb 'mean' used to describe past actions, intentions, or states. As a past simple form, it refers to something that was intended, signified, or referred to at an earlier time. As a past participle, it combines with 'have', 'had', or 'be' to create perfect tenses or passive structures.

例句

Talia said she was sorry, and I believed she meant it.

meant + it — general intention or truthfulness

Ishaan meant to call the repair shop on Monday, but he forgot.

meant + to-infinitive — intention in the past

文法句型

meant + to-infinitive (intention)

meant + that-clause (significance)

meant + noun phrase (reference)

had meant + to-infinitive (unfulfilled intention)

was/were meant + to-infinitive (purpose or expectation)

用法筆記

This is the past simple and past participle form of the irregular verb 'mean'. As a past simple form ('I meant what I said'), it describes completed actions or intentions. As a past participle, it appears in perfect constructions ('She had meant to arrive early') and in the passive voice ('The gift was meant for you'). Pronounced /ment/ — the final 't' is pronounced even though it is not heard in the base form 'mean'.

常見錯誤

❌He meaned to say thank you.
✅He meant to say thank you.
💡'mean' is an irregular verb; its past form is 'meant', not 'meaned'.
❌I have mean that since last week.
✅I have meant that since last week.
💡the past participle is 'meant', not 'mean'.