What'd

What did... What was this building used for in the past?

Where'd you go?
How'd you do on the exam?
What'd it cost?

I wouldn't use them in writing, but it's certainly how I'd speak.

thanks,
but if it is what did, the "used" seems not to be congruent with grammar, doesnt it?

Sure "used to" is something from the past.

I used to be an officer in the Navy.

One retired person says to another "What did you used to do?"

So, used to is understood or is a phrase verb, instead of past tense of a verb. right?

Thanks,

Ench.

used / did use (not did used) --- just like wanted / did want (not did wanted)

What did it use to be? It used to be an army barracks.

What did you use to do? I used to be an officer.
___

At least that's the way I learned it.

CJ's right: with "did" the verb should go to the main "use" but when spoken "use to" and "used to" sound the same so I made a mistake that I should have grown out of in about 6th grade.

Please use his answer and not mine!

Cool, guys.

Grammar Geek
CJ's right: with "did" the verb should go to the main "use" but when spoken "use to" and "used to" sound the same so I made a mistake that I should have grown out of in about 6th grade.

Please use his answer and not mine!

Hi GG

Not all grammarians think didn't used to is wrong. This quotation is from the Colli

That's an interesting point! Thanks for sharing that. I was assuming it was one of those "can't tell the difference in how it sounds and so written wrong" things. Like "could of."