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Milky Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
"Wouldn't" for negating or restricting past habits.
"Would" is used in a similar way to "used to" to talk about past habits and regular events, but can we use "wouldn't" as equivalent to "didn't use to" in some contexts?
EG
"I wouldn't go clubbing every weekend. I only went when my wife was staying with her mother."
"I wouldn't always go to Mother's when everyone else did. I preferred to visit her alone."
EG
"I wouldn't go clubbing every weekend. I only went when my wife was staying with her mother."
"I wouldn't always go to Mother's when everyone else did. I preferred to visit her alone."
Top answer
Milky "Would" is used in a similar way to "used to" to talk about past habits and regular events, but can we use "wouldn't" as equivalent to "didn't use to" in some contexts? EG "I wouldn't go clubbing every weekend. " "I wouldn't always go to Mother's when everyone else did.
- Milky "Would" is used in a similar way to "used to" to talk about past habits and regular events, but can we use "wouldn't" as equivalent to "didn't use to" in some contexts?
- EG "I wouldn't go clubbing every weekend.
- " "I wouldn't always go to Mother's when everyone else did.
- " Yes, this is fine.
- "Wouldn't" is acting like "didn't" here.
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4 Answers
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Milky"Would" is used in a similar way to "used to" to talk about past habits and regular events, but can we use "wouldn't" as equivalent to "didn't use to" in some contexts?
EG
"I wouldn't go clubbing every weekend. I only went when my wife was staying with her mother."
"I wouldn't always go to Mother's when everyone else did. I preferred to v
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There is something asymmetrical about non-hypothetical "would".
1. Lydia stopped by last night, but she wouldn't stay.
— fine; = "was unwilling to stay".
2. ?Lydia stopped by last night, and she would stay.
— "was willing to stay" only in archaic usage.
3. Lydia would drop by every morning, in those days.
— fine; "was accustomed to drop by". A
1. Lydia stopped by last night, but she wouldn't stay.
— fine; = "was unwilling to stay".
2. ?Lydia stopped by last night, and she would stay.
— "was willing to stay" only in archaic usage.
3. Lydia would drop by every morning, in those days.
— fine; "was accustomed to drop by". A
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wouldn't always seems fine to me as a limitation on a habitual action.
wouldn't ever seems equally good.
When asked to appear as an expert witness, Dr. Karmen wouldn't always comply with the wishes of the court.
Little Mikey wouldn't ever play with the other children during recess. I wonder what was wrong with him.
wouldn't ... every weekend
wouldn't ever seems equally good.
When asked to appear as an expert witness, Dr. Karmen wouldn't always comply with the wishes of the court.
Little Mikey wouldn't ever play with the other children during recess. I wonder what was wrong with him.
wouldn't ... every weekend
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Yes indeed, wouldn't always is fine and confirmed as good usage by many grammarians, but "wouldn't" alone seems to run into trouble when not modified within the same clause.
Here is an example of that in Mr P's offering:
<4. Lydia wouldn't drop by every morning, in those days.
— not "was not accustomed to drop by" or "didn't use to drop by", but "refused/was unwillin
Here is an example of that in Mr P's offering:
<4. Lydia wouldn't drop by every morning, in those days.
— not "was not accustomed to drop by" or "didn't use to drop by", but "refused/was unwillin
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