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Yukiko Itoi
didn't used to / never used to ??
I'd like to ask you how to use "didn't used to" and "never used to"??
I'm studying English in Australia.
I go to English school but I can't understand how difference between "didn't used to" and "never used to".
Please let me know!!
May 28, 2017 3:38 AM
Answers · 2
2
I don't think there should be a -d on 'didn't use to'. http://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/past/used-to says that both are used, but without is better.
The difference between them is the emphasis.
'I didn't use to' generally means I didn't usually, but I might have possibly.
e.g. "I didn't use to eat Japanese food' - It certainly wasn't something I usually or regularly ate.
'I never used to' is much stronger. I either never had the opportunity, or I made an effort to avoid it.
'I never used to eat Vegemite, it tasted disgusting! But after trying it accidentally once or twice, I now quite like it'.
So - they have a very similar meaning, but 'never' has a stronger emphasis.
May 28, 2017
'understand how difference' isn't quite right. Perhaps 'understand the difference' or 'what the difference is'.
May 28, 2017
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Yukiko Itoi
Language Skills
English, Japanese
Learning Language
English
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