using used to?

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nathesh2011

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Can we use " used to" in negative sentences?


I was not used to drive a big car?
Or should we say: I was not habituated to drive a big car?
 

bhaisahab

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Can we use " used to" in negative sentences?


I was not used to drive a big car?
Or should we say: I was not habituated to drive a big car?
"I wasn't used to driving a big car" is fine.
 

emsr2d2

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Can we use " used to" in negative sentences?


I was not used to drive a big car?
Or should we say: I was not habituated to drive a big car?

We don't say "habituated to".

It's "used to + verb+ing" regardless of tense.

I was not used to eating such big meals.
I am not used to having so much homework.
He will get used to walking to school.
 

nathesh2011

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We don't say "habituated to".

It's "used to + verb+ing" regardless of tense.

I was not used to eating such big meals.
I am not used to having so much homework.
He will get used to walking to school.


Will the above rule hold good for a past habit as in the following sentence?

I used to read literature when I was a student.
 

5jj

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Will the above rule hold good for a past habit as in the following sentence?

I used to read literature when I was a student.
No. This is a completely different structure.

The negative is
"I didn't use to read..."

You will see some people, incorrectly, write, "I didn't used to read..."

A few people still say and write, " I used not to read...".
 

emsr2d2

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Remember that "used to" has two different meanings:

1) To be accustomed to (what you called "habituated to") - always preceded by some version of the verb "to be".
2) Did in the past

Do you see the difference between these two similar sentences?

I am used to reading in the park
I used to read in the park.
 
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