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From: Bob Cunningham <exw6sxq@earthlink.net>
Newsgroups: alt.languages.english
Subject: Re: used to
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Date: Mon, 04 Jul 2005 12:59:12 GMT
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On 3 Jul 2005 14:53:27 -0700, s.libri@gmail.com said:
> Some help with "used to". Which of these forms are the most likely in
> written and in spoken English? which are incorrect? Are there any
> differences between American English and British English?
> Sorry for my pedantry.
You would probably find it interesting to look at
http://tinyurl.com/8geas *.
If you search at Google Groups on "Newsgroup:
alt.usage.english", "Author: Cunningham", "Exact phrase:
"Used you", you should get a dozen or so hits that discuss
this topic in what I like to think is a significant way.
For example, http://tinyurl.com/9d9pk **.
> - I didn't used to live there
That one is grammatically atrocious, and it's considered
wrong by all American guides I've seen, but -- sad to say --
it's accepted to a certain extent by British guides.
> - I didn't use to live there
> - I did not use to live there
Those are idiomatic and acceptable.
> - I did not used to live there
Again, atrocious.
> - I used not to live there
> - I usedn't to live there
Those are okay grammatically, but so far as I know they're
not commonly heard in American English. They may be more
common in British English.
> - Did you used to live there?
Again, grammatically dreadful. it's equivalent to saying
"Did you wanted to live there?"
> - Did you use to live there?
Okay.
> - Used you to live there?
British?
> - Didn't you used to live there?
Didn't you wanted to say "Didn't you use to live there?"
> - Did you not used to live there?
Did you not wanted to say that differently?
> - Didn't you use to live there?
> - Did you not use to live there?
One British guide calls the construction "Didn't you
<infinitive>" colloquial. It's fully acceptable in American
English.
> - Used you not to live there?
> - Usedn't you to live there?
> You used to live there,
> - didn't you?
American.
> - usedn't you?
British?
> $ tags (positive)
> -did you?
Normal American English
> -used you?
That would be perceived as unnatural by American listeners.
I don't know about British. It can be found in quotations
from respected writers.
> Thanks
> Stefano
*
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.usage.english/msg/43a48e96523839b7?dmode=source&hl=en
**
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.usage.english/msg/58b73ba9609e5cc1?dmode=source&hl=en
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