I mean this book to be a novel/I mean my son to become a doctor

[Vladv1]

Can "to mean" be used in this pattern?
1. I mean this book to be a novel.
2. I mean my son to become a doctor.

 

[emsr2d2]

The first is OK because you're the one writing the book so you can say what your intention is for it. You're in control of the outcome. The second doesn't work because your son is an independent being - he can choose to become a doctor if he wants but you don't have control of his career. He could say "I mean to become a doctor".

I would prefer "I mean for ..." in the first sentence.

 

[jutfrank]

My answer is a reluctant yes, but don't do it because it often sounds unnatural in some way. Use 'mean for' instead. It's exactly the same with 'intend'.

 

[Vladv1]

My answer is a reluctant yes, but don't do it because it often sounds unnatural in some way. Use 'mean for' instead. It's exactly the same with 'intend'.

To say " I intend this book to cover this event" is a mistake or unnatural?

 

[Vladv1]

My answer is a reluctant yes, but don't do it because it often sounds unnatural in some way. Use 'mean for' instead. It's exactly the same with 'intend'.

Does " I intend for my son to become a doctor" work?

 

[jutfrank]

To say " I intend this book to cover this event" is a mistake or unnatural?

Yes. As I said, use 'for' in this pattern, both with 'mean' and 'intend'.

Does " I intend for my son to become a doctor" work?

Yes.

 

[emsr2d2]

To say Is "I intend this book to cover this event" is a mistake or unnatural?

Again, note the correct way to construct a question. You need to make sure you're getting the basics right before moving on to more complicated questions.
I have no idea what your new sentence is supposed to mean. Are you talking about the topic of the book?

Does "I intend for my son to become a doctor" work?

Yes, but you must stop putting a space after opening quotation marks. I've had to make this correction in both quote boxes above and I've done it in some of your earlier posts too.

 

[Vladv1]

Yes. As I said, use 'for' in this pattern, both with 'mean' and 'intend'.



Yes.

"I mean for my son to become a doctor" sounds off, doesn't it?

 

[jutfrank]

Sounds 'off'? What do you mean? What sounds off, exactly?

It does sound to me a little bit old-fashioned, as if it could be a line of dialogue from a nineteenth century novel, for instance.