Qual è la differenza tra I mean ... e I meant ... ?Sentiti libero di rispondere con un esempio.

@veryniceperson: "I mean" is present tense, so you are saying what you are thinking right now so the person understands. Or it is used when correcting something your just said.

Whereas "I meant" is past tense to you use it when saying what you were trying to say in the past or correcting something you said wrong that isn't the subject anymore.

e.g "What I mean is, we have no way out of here!"

"We shouldn't go to his party. I mean all it is going to be is a heap of stupid drunk people."

"Go left. Oops I mean right." (the left turn hasnt been taken yet so the person can still turn right.)

"Go left, oops I meant right." (The left turn has been taken and the speaker is stating that he should have gone right.)

"How is everyone?"
"I don't know everyone."
"I meant the family."

"I meant to hurt him, that is why I said what I said."