What's the difference between I wasn't used to doing something or I didn't use to do something? For example, is there any difference here:
1. I wasn't used to riding a bike when I was five.
2. I didn't use to ride a bike when I was five.
PS: Immerse yourself in these free English lessons: Free training: Confusion between Adjectives and Adverbs — Tokelau Timeline — Difference between ROBBER, BURGLAR, MUGGER and THIEF — What is the most Beautiful Word
- YekaterinaSMarch 2019
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nmesomtoChukwuMarch 2019 Actually, both sentences are not quite correct. The first should rather be 'I wasn't accustomed to doing something'. The second should be 'I never did something'. For example: 1. I wasn't accustomed to riding a bike. 2. I never rode a bike in when I was five. The Explanation 'I wasn't used to doing something' means that in the past, the speaker (or writer) wasn't accustomed to performing a particular action (doing something). On the other hand, 'I didn't use to do something' means that the speaker (or writer) never performed the action (did something) in the past. I hope this helps. |
AussieInBgNovember 2021 ”accustomed to” has a somewhat different meaning to ”used to”.
”accustomed to” is all about the process of getting into the habit of doing sth whereas ”used to” is about already being in the habit of doing sth.
In other words,”accustomed” emphasises acquiring the habit and ”used to” stresses that the habit has been acquired.
AussieInBgNovember 2021 They are indeed standard and correct English - but are more used in British English than American English...
VsevuskavJanuary 2021 I don’t think it’s right to say that they are improper. Even my dictionary acknowledges them as part of standard and correct English.
exRangerMarch 2019 Or variants:
1. I wasn't accustomed to riding a bike.
> I wasn't used to riding a bike.
2. I never rode a bike in when I was five.
I didn't ride a bike when I was five.