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Coloraday Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

What is the meaning of given here?

He was once given to scrambling with his hands and sprawling in his sleep;and ever since she has him swaddled up in blankets.
What is the meaning of He was once given ? 
Thanks
  

Top answer

There was a time when he did this. He used to do this.

— BarbaraPA

  • There was a time when he did this.
  • He used to do this.
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17 Answers
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There was a time when he did this. He used to do this.
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Does the the structure of Be + Given + to + sth mean to be used to sth?
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No. I think you mean "To be accustomed to something." To be "used to something" means that.

I think the confusion here is that you can be accustomed to doing something, and you can be accostomed to experiencing something.

He was accustomed to fly off the handle at the least provocation.

He was accustomed to being awakened ever
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In addition to the above distinction, there's also this:

There's a tendency to use "given to" as a pejorative, that is, referring to a bad habit.

"Accustomed to" could go either way.
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AvangiHe was accustomed to fly off the handle at the least provocation.
Shouldn't it be flying off in this case?

I got the point thanks for your answer.
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But a question.
Which Does it mean :"He was used to scrambling ... ." OR" He used to scramble... ."?
I myself think the first is intention.
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Hi Coloraday,

We're speaking of habitual behavior here. There are various ways to express it. Between your two suggestions, I see no significant difference in meaning.

Similarly, in your earlier question, the infinitive and the present participle are in most cases interchangeable.

Best wishes, - A.
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coloraday
AvangiHe was accustomed to fly off the handle at the least provocation.
Shouldn't it be flying off in this case?
We must be careful to keep track of when "to" is used as an infinitive marker and when it's used as a preposition.

"Accustomed to" / "used to" are using "to" as a preposition.

I li
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AvangiI'm accustomed to take a shower every day.
As you say to here is a preposition and I think after prepositions we should use a gerund.
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The gerund is correct after the preposition "to:"

I am accustomed to taking a shower every day.

The "to" in "used to" can be either the infinitive marker or preposition:

I used to eat ice cream every day. (to = infinitive; used is the main verb)
I am not used to driving a car with a manual transmission. (to = preposition; "used to" is an idiom)
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