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Anonymous Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Would vs Used to
What did you use to do before you got this job? CORRECT
What would you do before you got this job? INCORRECT
It is established that we can use both used to and would for past habits, but we can't use would for past states. So why is the second sentence using would incorrect when the verb is do? Does this second sentence express a state?
What would you do before you got this job? INCORRECT
It is established that we can use both used to and would for past habits, but we can't use would for past states. So why is the second sentence using would incorrect when the verb is do? Does this second sentence express a state?
Top answer
Yes, the occupation, presumably, is meant. Please note that the would habitual form is in any case rather limited in use-- to 'characteristic, predictable behavior' and usually in written narrative. ' , the response could be either 'I used to be a nuclear physicist ' or 'Nothing; I would just sit in the park and smoke cigarette after cigarette'.
- Yes, the occupation, presumably, is meant.
- Please note that the would habitual form is in any case rather limited in use-- to 'characteristic, predictable behavior' and usually in written narrative.
- ' , the response could be either 'I used to be a nuclear physicist ' or 'Nothing; I would just sit in the park and smoke cigarette after cigarette'.
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2 Answers
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Yes, the occupation, presumably, is meant. Please note that the would habitual form is in any case rather limited in use-- to 'characteristic, predictable behavior' and usually in written narrative.
Although the only correct question is 'What did you use(d) to do before you got this job?', the response could be either 'I used to be a nuclear physicist
Although the only correct question is 'What did you use(d) to do before you got this job?', the response could be either 'I used to be a nuclear physicist
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1. What would you do, before you got this job?
Interesting. This is not an inconceivable structure in British English; though rare, as MM says. I can imagine replying, "Well, I would sit round the swimming pool with a few friends, having a drink, having a smoke..."
I think the "job" context makes it stranger than it needs to be. Here's an example from Google:
2. "What wo
Interesting. This is not an inconceivable structure in British English; though rare, as MM says. I can imagine replying, "Well, I would sit round the swimming pool with a few friends, having a drink, having a smoke..."
I think the "job" context makes it stranger than it needs to be. Here's an example from Google:
2. "What wo
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