شرح مبسط لقاعدة Used to

من طرف Mariam Alaa الخميس مارس 25, 2010 7:55 pm

'Used to' or 'use to' vs would

I was asked on Pal Talk recently how to use used to and would.

If we say something used to happen we are talking about repeated events
and actions in the past, usually things that happened a long time ago
and are now finished.

To express this we can use either used to or would.

When I was young I used to play with my dolls. = When I was young I would play with my dolls.

Of course I no longer play with dolls!

We used to go out a lot in the summer.

Implies that we no longer go out much.

If you want to talk about repeated states or habits in the past, you must use used to, you cannot use would : :

My dog used to bark at cats.

I used to smoke.

I used to be an administrative assistant.

I used to live in England.

You should use 'use to' without a d in sentences when it follows 'did'
or 'didn't' (don't worry too much about this because lots of people get
it wrong).

The question form is ‘Did you use to…?'. When asking a closed question
you put did/didn't in front of the subject followed by use to, you
cannot use would.

Did you use to go out with my sister?

Did they use to own the company?

Didn't we use to go to the same school?

Also when asking questions about states in the past you cannot use would.

What sort of things did you use to like when you were young?

. In the negative you cannot use would without a change in meaning.

I didn't use to play with my dolls.

If I said I wouldn't play with my dolls. It would mean I refused to play with my dolls.

We didn't use to go out much in the winter months.

If I said we wouldn't go out much. It would mean we refused to go out much.

!Note - The general rule is when there is did or didn't in the
sentence, we say use to (without d) when there is no did or didn't in
the sentence, we say used to (with d).

There is also a difference between "used to do something and to be used to something".

Wish is most commonly used in hypothetical (or imagined) situations:

I wish that I had a dog. (I don't really have a dog, but if I did, I would be happy.)

I wish (that) you were here. (Unfortunately, you're not, and I miss you.)

Sometimes wish is used in greeting and expressions of goodwill:

We wish you a "Merry Christmas."

They wished him "Happy Birthday."

Wish me luck. (S V IO DO)

Hope can also be used in expressions of goodwill, but the grammar is slightly different:

I hope (that) you have a Merry Christmas.

I hope (that) you had a nice Birthday. (some time in the future)

(some time in the past)

Hope can be used to specify a desired outcome. For future hopes, the
possibilities remain open, but for past hopes, the outcome has usually
been determined already.

I hope you can come to the party on Saturday.

I was hoping that you would come to the party.

I had hoped to see you at the party on Saturday. I hope to get an A on the exam.

I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.

He hopes to be elected President.

She hoped you wouldn't find her.

(future possibility)

(but you didn't make it)

(but I didn't) (it is still possible)

(although it might)

(it could happen)
(but you probably did)

Wish and hope are also used in certain types of requests and
pleasantries. In such situations, wish carries a more definite and
formal tone.

I wish to see the doctor. I hope to see you again.

(right now) (anytime in the future [ندعوك للتسجيل في المنتدى أو التعريف بنفسك لمعاينة هذه الصورة]