wrong use of 'mean'?

[dihen]

Is it wrong to use 'mean' as a linking verb? Or is it a mistake that only foreigners would make and you native speakers would consider it ungrammatical even in informal speech?
`
example:
'frequently' means similar to 'probably'. (missing object)
'frequently' means like 'probably'. (missing object)

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by dihen

Is it wrong to use 'mean' as a linking verb? Or is it a mistake that only foreigners would make and you native speakers would consider it ungrammatical even in informal speech?
`
example:
'frequently' means similar to 'probably'. (missing object)
'frequently' means like 'probably'. (missing object)

"Mean(s)" is not a linking verb.

"frequently" is similar to "probably" (not really)
"frequently" means "commonly"

[dihen]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

"frequently" is similar to "probably" (not really)
"frequently" means "commonly"

I actually copied the wrong word when I was using the 'cut' and 'paste' functions. I wanted to say these instead.:
`
"frequently" is similar to "often".
"frequently" means like "often".
`
Is "frequently" similar to "often"?
And sentence I was copying the wrong word from were " 'possibly' means similar to 'probably'." and " 'possibly' means like 'probably'.". Is "possibly" similar to probably?
`
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Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

"Mean(s)" is not a linking verb.

My misanalysis is probably because of this.:
`
* [word] means [word] (* subject - verb - predicate)
[word] is [word] (subject - verb - predicate)

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by dihen

I actually copied the wrong word when I was using the 'cut' and 'paste' functions. I wanted to say these instead.:
`
"frequently" is similar to "often".
"frequently" means like "often".
`
Is "frequently" similar to "often"?
And sentence I was copying the wrong word from were " 'possibly' means similar to 'probably'." and " 'possibly' means like 'probably'.". Is "possibly" similar to probably?
`
-----------

My misanalysis is probably because of this.:
`
* [word] means [word] (* subject - verb - predicate)
[word] is [word] (subject - verb - predicate)

I understand your dilemma, but "means" is transitive and it means "denotes".

[dihen]

My mistake may also be caused by thinking of the meaning of "mean" as "the meaning of [word] is...".
`
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Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

"frequently" is similar to "probably" (not really)

By "not really" do you mean "It in fact doesn't mean "frequently." or is it still partially true that "frequently" is similar to "probably"?
`
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Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

"frequently" means "commonly"

It doesn't mean "very often"?

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by dihen

My mistake may also be caused by thinking of the meaning of "mean" as "the meaning of [word] is...".
`
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By "not really" do you mean "It in fact doesn't mean "frequently." or is it still partially true that "frequently" is similar to "probably"?
`
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It doesn't mean "very often"?

1. Frequently does not mean probably.
2. Frequently can mean "commonly" or "very often".