Pelin
Can I use these interchangeable? You mean something to me You have a value to me. She didn't like me talking to other girls. She didn't like it when I talked to other girls.
Aug 18, 2021 8:39 PM
Answers · 5
You mean something to me. You have a value to me. It is important to understand the difference between denotative meaning and connotative meaning. Both sentences above are grammatically correct. But even though the intent may be to cause someone to feel valued, neither sentence would accomplish that goal. I will discuss each sentence separately. "You mean something to me." The word "something" is vague/unclear. This would most likely be interpreted by a listener or reader to be evasive. It sounds like the speaker is trying to think of what he is supposed to say rather than saying something he or she really feels. Here are some better expressions to convey true feeling: "You mean a lot to me." "You mean the world to me." "You mean everything to me." ___ "You have a value to me." If someone who is not a native English speaker said this to someone, I think the listener or reader would know that the intention was positive. But if a native English speaker said this, it would actually be considered negative, because it sounds forced or clinical. It sounds like the speaker feels the other person is an object rather than a person—something to be owned or that performs a service of benefit, and not a person that one truly cares for. Here are some better ways to say this: "You are invaluable to me." "I really value our friendship."
August 19, 2021
"You have a value to me" emphasises how much you value that person, whereas "You mean something to me" is much more subtle. It would be better to say "You mean a lot to me." The second one is interchangeable.
August 19, 2021
She didn't like me talking to other girls. She didn't like it when I talked to other girls. (I submitted a separate response for the first two sentences.) The first sentence above is actually not grammatically correct. The technically correct sentence is this: "She didn't like my talking to other girls." However, this sounds very formal. It is not how native speakers talk. Either sentence is OK in colloquial speech, and both mean almost the same thing. You could also add the following: "She didn't like when I talked to other girls." However, there is a slight difference in implied meaning between the two sentences. "She didn't like me talking to other girls." This implies that she feels a sense of ownership over me—that she is possessive and controlling. If I talk to other girls, she will probably yell at me and tell me to stop. She will argue, threaten me or try manipulate me. "She didn't like it when I talked to other girls." This focuses on "it" rather than "me," so it feels like she is insecure or jealous, but not controlling or possessive of me. She may or may not say anything to me about it. I may only know she feels this way because she told a friend who told me. Or perhaps I notice that she bites her lip or gets tears in her eyes when I talk to other girls. If she says something to me, it is more likely to be a question or a statement designed to get more information or to reassure her that I don't like the other girls (e.g., "You and Veronica talked for a long time tonight..." or "Do you think Veronica is prettier than I am?")
August 18, 2021
You mean something to me-Little lukewarm. What is something? Do you love the person? Are they your best friend? You have a value to me.-Little cold. Maybe something you'd say to an employee. I wouldn't say "a value" I'd actually say; "I value you." She didn't like me talking to other girls.-good She didn't like it when I talked to other girls.-good
August 18, 2021
They sound completely fine to me. Anyhow, I am not an expert in English grammar. The only sentence that just sounds a bit weird is the second one "You have a value for me". Hope it helps!
August 18, 2021
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