didn't use to vs didn't used to

The correct phrase is "didn't use to." The structure is "used to" to express past habits or states. In negative sentences, the auxiliary verb "did" is used in the past tense, followed by the base form of the main verb, which is "use."

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 396 views

This is the correct construction to express past habits or states in negative sentences.

"didn't use to"

Use "didn't use to" to talk about past habits or states that were true in the past but are no longer true. For example, "I didn't use to like coffee, but now I drink it every day."

Examples:

She didn't use to eat meat, but now she does.
I didn't use to enjoy running, but now I love it.
They didn't use to live in this city, but they moved here last year.
He didn't use to play the guitar, but now he's in a band.
We didn't use to go on vacation every year, but now we do.

Show examples from the web [+]

We didn't use to die like today.
I didn't use to have so much time.
Women didn't use to talk politics in this country.
Which he obviously didn't use to bury her.
Tom didn't use to drink so much.
My father didn't use to like any of these things.
Well, I'll show you where we didn't use to fish through the ice.
I didn't use to be a tadpole.
Alex didn't use to be so tired when he came home from work.
But it didn't use to bother you.
You didn't use to think so.
You didn't use to be like this.
You know, you didn't use to be this funny.
Tom didn't use to like red wine, but now he drinks it almost every day.
You didn't use to cry.
I'm sorry. I didn't use to be.
I didn't use to like wine, but now I like it a lot.
I didn't use to like wine, but now I like it a lot.
You didn't use to talk weird like this!
Or at least, it didn't... didn't use to be.

This is an incorrect construction. The verb "use" should be in its base form after the auxiliary verb "did" in negative sentences.

"didn't used to"

Show examples from the web [+]

You didn't used to look like this.
Anyway, that didn't used to stop you.
Our friendship didn't used to be this way.
You didn't used to be so bashful.
You didn't used to be like this.
He didn't used to drink.
He didn't used to be that self-conscious before High School.
This didn't used to be nowhere.
I didn't used to be.
We didn't used to have any in Florida.
You didn't used to be so reticent.
You didn't used to be a zeppelin.
You didn't used to be like this, Monk.
You didn't used to be afraid of the telephone.
She didn't used to have that look in her eye.
My life didn't used to be like this.
You didn't used to be so sentimental.
These didn't used to be so heavy.
He didn't used to drink and I never knew him hit anyone before.
I didn't used to feel like that until you showed up.

Alternatives:

didn't use to

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didn't use to vs didn't used to

"didn't use to"

"didn't used to"

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