"when I was a child, I didn't use to like tomatoes." vs "When I was a child, I didn't used to like tomatoes."

Question

"when I was a child, I didn't use to like tomatoes." vs "When I was a child, I didn't used to like tomatoes."

The correct phrase is: 'when i was a child, i didn't use to like tomatoes.' The use of 'use to' in this context indicates a past habit or repeated action. 'Used to' is the correct form, not 'used' or 'use'.

Last Updated: April 01, 2024

This phrase is used to talk about something that was true or happened regularly in the past but is no longer true in the present.

Examples:

When I was young, I didn't use to eat vegetables.
She didn't use to enjoy reading as a child.
I didn't use to play video games when I was a kid.
They didn't use to travel much when they were younger.
He didn't use to like spicy food when he was a child.

Alternatives:

when i was a child, i used to not like tomatoes.
when i was a child, i didn't like tomatoes.
when i was a child, i used not to like tomatoes.
when i was a child, i didn't like tomatoes.
when i was a child, i wasn't used to liking tomatoes.

Answer 1

when I was a child, I didn't use to like tomatoes.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a past habit or repeated action.

Answer 2

When I was a child, I didn't used to like tomatoes.

This phrase is incorrect. The correct form is 'didn't use to' when expressing a past habit or repeated action.