Questions about use(d) to go

Question

Which one is correct, or are all the sentences correct? 3rd sentence made me confuse.

1- I didn't use to go swimming a lot.
2- I used not to go swimming a lot.
3- I didn't used to go swimming a lot.

I don't think #3 is grammatical. Phonetically, though, there's not much difference between "use to go" and "used to go," so that might be an eggcorn. — J.R., Jun 10 '16 at 20:44

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 10 '16 at 21:05

1

You will hear #3 in real speech, but it should be like #1:

I didn't use to go swimming a lot.

because with do + X, X has to be the plain form. There is no such thing like do + { past participle } like there is with be or have.

Your second example should be:

I used to not go swimming a lot.

because if you use not with a verb, and that verb is not be or have, then you have to use do with it.

answered Jun 10 '16 at 21:05

LawrenceC

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I think. I used not to go swimming a lot, is grammatical. – I don't know who I am. Jun 11 '16 at 06:59
British English: You used not to fuss like this. – I don't know who I am. Jun 11 '16 at 07:05

Khan · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-12T04:40:27.013

1

The sentences #1 and #2 are correct grammatically. 'didn't use to go' and 'used not to go' can be used interchangeably, without any difference in meaning. However, the latter is fairly formal.

As for the sentence #3, though some people also use 'did not used to', it's not usually considered to be correct.

edited Jun 12 '16 at 04:40

answered Jun 11 '16 at 15:44

Khan

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Questions about use(d) to go

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