Did + used to?

Question

After reading quite a bit about "use to", it all became quite fuzzy for me, but I've yet to see an example fitting my question:

Did you get bold* used *bold to living in Canada?

Is this correctly written?
Every grammar explanation says there shouldn't be a "d" after a "did"; however, it doesn't sound right to me to write:

Did you get bold* use *bold to (living, reading)

Any tips on this?

Blue Jay · Accepted Answer

"Did you get used to living in Canada?" is correct.

Anonymous · Answer

Blue Jay"Did you get used to living in Canada?" is correct.

Or, "Did you use to....?"

For many speakers, questions and negatives employ "use to".

Blue Jay · Answer

AnonymousOr, "Did you use to....?"

Yes, if the question is "Did you use to live in Canada?"

The meaning is different, though.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes, it's not "used to", it's "be used to".

Fivejedjon · Answer

Used to

I used to live in Canada.
Did you use to live in Canada?

(You'll see 'Did you used to live in Canada' so often that some people appear to think it's correct.)

Get used to

I got used to living in such a cold place.
Did you get used to living in such a cold place?

Be used to

I was used to dealing with people who spoke only French.

Cool Breeze · Answer

fivejedjonI used to live in Canada.Did you use to live in Canada?(You'll see 'Did you used to live in Canada' so often that some people appear to think it's correct.)

Indeed. This is what Collins Concise Dictionary thinks about it:

USAGE NOTE. The most common negative form of used to is didn't used to (or didn't use to), but in formal contexts used not to is preferred.

About seven years ago, when used not to was on a list of controversial structures that I posted for discussion here, many native speakers considered it incorrect. English wouldn't be so fascinating if people agreed on correct usage.

CB

Fivejedjon · Answer

Cool BreezeUSAGE NOTE. The most common negative form of used to is didn't used to (or didn't use to), but in formal contexts used not to is preferred.About seven years ago, when used not to was on a list of controversial structures that I posted for discussion here, many native speakers considered it incorrect. English wouldn't be so fascinating if people agreed on correct usage.

Because of my advanced age and rather formal education, I tend to write 'used not to', but I would not dream of getting my learners to use that. It sounds stilted even though I use it myself.

The form 'didn't used to' cannot be justified by any rules of grammar, but it is so common that it would be foolhardy to dismiss it as incorrect.Iit almst certainly arose because there is no difference at all in the pronunciation of 'didn't use to' and 'didn't used to'.

CalifJim · Answer

Cool BreezeAbout seven years ago, when used not to was on a list of controversial structures that I posted for discussion here, many native speakers considered it incorrect.

Was I one of them?

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

fivejedjonIt sounds tilted

To the right or to the left?

fivejedjonbecause there is no difference at all in the pronunciation of 'didn't use to' and 'didn't used to'.

Amen.

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

CalifJim Cool BreezeAbout seven years ago, when used not to was on a list of controversial structures that I posted for discussion here, many native speakers considered it incorrect.Was I one of them? CJ

I don't remember, Jim.

Anyway, I sometimes find it a little strange that some people insist on some expressions being correct or incorrect on grammatical grounds. Logic doesn't always apply in language, especially English, in which all manner of idioms abound that defy all grammar.

Everything that makes up modern English was incorrect at an earlier stage in the history of the language. The pronoun they, for example, was borrowed from Old Norse brought to the British Isles by the Vikings. There was a third person plural personal pronoun in English and yet it was replaced by this completely ungrammatical intruder. Today no one frowns upon it!

CB

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