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Anonymous Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
used to or past
Hello my dear teachers.I have some questions for you.
"In many cities nowadays, food shopping takes very little time. In the past, people used to go (1) to a different shop for each item. For example, you bought (2) meat at a butcher´s shop and fish at a fish market. A fruit market used to sell (3) fruit and vegetables. For dry foods like rice or beans, you had (4) to go to groceries stores." Jack C. Richards - New Interchange- Cambridge University Press.
Can you tell me if in numbers 1 and 3 you could use the simple past without no difference in meaning. On the other hand, could I use "used to" in numbers 2 and 4 and maintain the same meaning or would the meaning become different by the change?
Thank you.
José Rocha
"In many cities nowadays, food shopping takes very little time. In the past, people used to go (1) to a different shop for each item. For example, you bought (2) meat at a butcher´s shop and fish at a fish market. A fruit market used to sell (3) fruit and vegetables. For dry foods like rice or beans, you had (4) to go to groceries stores." Jack C. Richards - New Interchange- Cambridge University Press.
Can you tell me if in numbers 1 and 3 you could use the simple past without no difference in meaning. On the other hand, could I use "used to" in numbers 2 and 4 and maintain the same meaning or would the meaning become different by the change?
Thank you.
José Rocha
Top answer
Hola, José, All the changes you indicate would convey the same essential meaning. Used to merely stresses the habitual or ongoing past activity. Often (as perhaps here) the writer has varied the verb form for stylistic interest and clarity-- the shops sold products every day (ongoing past activity); 'you' purchased on occasion (as individual past events).
- Hola, José, All the changes you indicate would convey the same essential meaning.
- Used to merely stresses the habitual or ongoing past activity.
- Often (as perhaps here) the writer has varied the verb form for stylistic interest and clarity-- the shops sold products every day (ongoing past activity); 'you' purchased on occasion (as individual past events).
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1 Answers
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Hola, José,
All the changes you indicate would convey the same essential meaning. Used to merely stresses the habitual or ongoing past activity. Often (as perhaps here) the writer has varied the verb form for stylistic interest and clarity-- the shops sold products every day (ongoing past activity); 'you' purchased on occasion (as individual past events).
All the changes you indicate would convey the same essential meaning. Used to merely stresses the habitual or ongoing past activity. Often (as perhaps here) the writer has varied the verb form for stylistic interest and clarity-- the shops sold products every day (ongoing past activity); 'you' purchased on occasion (as individual past events).
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