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Thread: Used to doing?

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    Default Used to doing?

    Hello teachers,


    Is it correct to use" used to verb+ing form"?

    For eg,

    1) I used to be hoping that he would come.

    or

    I used to hoping that he would come.(I have heard it a person saying but I think it is grammatical incorrect)

    Thank you.
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    Default Re: Used to doing?

    Quote Originally Posted by david11 View Post
    Hello teachers,


    Is it correct to use" used to verb+ing form"?

    For eg,

    1) I used to be hoping that he would come.

    or

    I used to hoping that he would come.(I have heard it a person saying but I think it is grammatical incorrect)

    Thank you.
    Both of your examples are incorrect, but "used to doing" is possible. For example, "I am used to driving large vehicles", "He is used to singing in public".
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Used to doing?

    Thank you for reply sir.


    I am used to doing something is all together has a different meaning.

    It means that a person is familiar to that.

    Is my explanation above is right sir?

    My doubt is whether I used to be verb+ing exist or not.

    From your reply I understand that it does not.

    Am I right? sir


    Thank you.
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    Default Re: Used to doing?

    Quote Originally Posted by david11 View Post
    Hello teachers,


    Is it correct to use" used to verb+ing form"?

    For eg,

    1) I used to be hoping that he would come.

    or

    I used to hoping that he would come.(I have heard it a person saying but I think it is grammatical incorrect)

    Thank you.
    Neither of your examples is correct. When you are talking about something that was true in the past, but is no longer true, we simply use the bare infinitive after "used to".

    I used to hope that he would come.
    He used to be my friend.
    They used to drive too fast but now they are more careful.
    We used to go to Ibiza on holiday.
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Used to doing?

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    Neither of your examples is correct. When you are talking about something that was true in the past, but is no longer true, we simply use the bare infinitive after "used to".

    I used to hope that he would come.
    He used to be my friend.
    They used to drive too fast but now they are more careful.
    We used to go to Ibiza on holiday.
    Thank you madam. You explained what I wanted to know.

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    Default Re: Used to doing?

    I used to be hoping that he would come.

    Grammatically possible, but unlikely...

    I used to hoping that he would come.

    Ungrammatical.
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Used to doing?

    Quote Originally Posted by philo2009 View Post
    I used to be hoping that he would come.

    Grammatically possible, but unlikely...

    .
    Then what is the difference between the following sentences?

    1)I used to be hoping that he would come.

    2)I used to hope that he would come.
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    Default Re: Used to doing?

    To start with, the first is unlikely, as philo noted.

    If it were used, it would suggest that the speaker was (waiting) and hoping for 'his' arrival for a prolonged period of time [implied by the progressive form] on several occasions over a long period of time [implied by 'used to].
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    Context is always important; labelling is rarely important.


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    philo2009 is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Used to doing?

    Quote Originally Posted by 5jj View Post
    To start with, the first is unlikely, as philo noted.

    If it were used, it would suggest that the speaker was (waiting) and hoping for 'his' arrival for a prolonged period of time [implied by the progressive form] on several occasions over a long period of time [implied by 'used to].
    Precisely.

    The following example, however, might be a little more plausible:

    A: I used to hate it when the boss dropped in on us unexpectedly.
    B: Yes. I always used to be hoping that he wouldn't inspect my work too closely!
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