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conjugation of "use" as in "used to"

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:05 pm
by travelmongoose
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 :shock: . 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

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:36 pm
by Lorikeet
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.)

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:23 pm
by Metamorfose
used not to...usedn't

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

José :shock:

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:03 pm
by Stephen Jones
didn't use to
or
didn't used to

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:09 pm
by lolwhites
If they're preparing for an exam, didn't use to.