- I am used to write poems.
- A pencil is used to write and sketch.
- I am used to rise at 6 a.m.
- I am used to rising at 6 a.m.
- A pencil is used for writing and sketching.
Please check these sentences.
If I am wrong, enlighten me to correct me.
Thanks
In my opinion following sentences are correct, Am I right?
- I’m used to writing poems.
- A pencil is used to writing and sketching.
- I’m used to rising at 6 a.m.
- I am used to rising at 6 a.m.
- A pencil is used for writing and sketching
2/5. A pencil is used for writing and sketching
or
A pencil is used to write and sketch.
3/4. I am used to rising at 6am (I do it regularly).
or
I used to rise at 6am (I don’t do it these days).
Mr. Beeesness,
- “A pencil is used to write and sketch.”
- “I am used to write poems.”
#1 and # 2 sentences are in the same format.
How do you say that #2 is alone wrong?
Could you please explain a little bit?
Hi Allifathima,
You have to make a distinction with the different constructions:
1 A dictionary is used (employed)to look up words in. That is its purpose.
2 I used to (that was my usual practice) look up words in the dictionary when I was learning Italian. I don’t do this any longer.
3 I am used to (accustomed to) looking up words in a dictionary. I do this very often and so it isn’t difficult for me.
In you sentences -(1) ‘used’ means ‘employed’ and in (2) used to + ing means accustomed to.
Alan
Thank you very much Mr. Alan .
Mr. Alan,
Thanks.
- I used to go shopping in the evening.
- Where did you use to go after school?
- I use to go shopping in the evening.
- Do you use to go shopping after school?
Are all these sentences correct grammatically?
2 and 3 both need ‘used’ not ‘use’. (This is a common error as you often don’t hear the ‘d’)
- Did you used to go…
or
Do you go…
Mr. Beeesnees,
Did your father use to ride a horse? (wrong)
Did your father used to ride a horse? (OK)
Didn’t you use to play foot-ball When you were at school? (wrong)
Didn’t you used to play foot-ball When you were at school?(OK)
She didn’t use to swim before noon. (wrong)
She didn’t used to swim before noon. (OK)
As per your guidance, I marked my observations within brackets.
Are they correct?
But what all I marked wrong are given as correct expressions in some web-sites.
Please comment.
The writers of those web-sites have made errors. As I said, it is one of the more common errors.
Remember that just because something is on the Internet, doesn’t necessarily mean it is an accurate source or well written.
‘Football’ is one word.
In
learnenglish.de/grammar/usedtotext.htm
It is written as below:
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).
Is this web-site unauthentic?
I think ‘authentic’ may be the wrong word. A better word would be ‘accurate’.
It seems that this is an accepted convention. I’m sorry for misleading you.
Mr. Beeesneees,
What you mean “I’m sorry for misleading you.”?
- Did your father use to ride a horse?
- Didn’t you use to play football When you were at school?
- She didn’t use to swim before noon.
Are all above sentences correct grammatically?
Please comment. Thanks.
They are correct.
I’m sorry for misleading you = I’m sorry for saying they were wrong earlier. I had forgotten the rule about ‘did’.
Mr. Beeesneees,
Thanks for confirming.
Could this sentence below be correct in appropriate context?
Used you going somewhere after school?
Thanks
no, not in any context.
Can we make any interrogative sentence starting with “Used you”?
Thanks
No.
You’d need ‘to be’:
Are you used to …
The inversion of “You used to (do something)” to the question form “Used you to (do something)?” is in my opinion technically correct. However, it sounds formal almost to the point of awkwardness, and I wouldn’t recommend using it in modern conversational English.