I was going to call you, but...

[Luis Flmg]

Be Going To in Future, Present and Past Tense, Gonna - English Grammar

English Grammar Notes about using GOING TO in the different tenses.

www.grammar.cl

I was going to call you, but I lost your phone number.
I meant to call you, but I lost your phone number.
Do the sentences above have the same meaning? I've seen the term "Oh, I meant to ask you....". Is it the same case? If I say "I didn't mean to hurt you (John Lennon, Jealous Guy)", does it necessarily mean that I hurt the listener? Could it have been a misunderstanding on the part of the listener?

 

[Tarheel]

"I was going to call you, but I lost your phone number" is natural. (The other one might mean the same thing, but I don't see using it.)

"Oh, I meant to ask you ...." is usually followed by the question the person has in mind.

"I didn't mean to hurt you" is said by somebody who unintentionally hurt somebody's feelings.

 

[emsr2d2]

(The other one might mean the same thing, but I don't see using it.)

I think you've omitted a word.

 

[Tarheel]

I think you've omitted a word.

Myself? (That's implied.)

 

[tedmc]

"I didn't mean to do something" means someone regrets having done something.

 

[jutfrank]

I was going to call you
I meant to call you

= Calling you was my intention, although it didn't happen.

I didn't mean to hurt you.

= Hurting you was not my intention, and I'm sorry I did.

 

[Barque]

If I say "I didn't mean to hurt you (John Lennon, Jealous Guy)", does it necessarily mean that I hurt the listener?

Yes, or you think you may have.