conjugation of "use" as in "used to"

travelmongoose · Post by **travelmongoose** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:05 pm

I just realised to my horror that although my danish is not improving, my english seems to have deteriorated; I cannot seem to conjugate "used to" the negative

. I seem to have recollection of it being done differently in the US and UK, though, is that correct?

I've always said "used not to", but the other night, while tutoring, I drew a complete blank.

Thanks,
travelmongoose

Lorikeet · Post by **Lorikeet** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:36 pm

Heh. I didn't use to pay attention to all this stuff until I started reading Dave's ESL Cafe Boards.

("I used to not pay attention" may be "incorrect" but it's probably the other one I'd use instead of "I used not to pay attention" which is probably "correct" but sounds stilted to me.--American English.)

Metamorfose · Post by **Metamorfose** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:23 pm

used not to...usedn't

Isn't it kind of out-dated? Do people still use it?

José

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:03 pm

didn't use to
or
didn't used to

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:09 pm

If they're preparing for an exam, didn't use to.