By now, you should know the meaning of ‘used to’ and how to use it without causing chaos of Hormuz proportions in the kingdom of grammar. I hope you know the story of the Strait of Hormuz. When used with a verb in the simple tense, ‘used to’ indicates an action that occurred regularly or always in the past, but which has now stopped. That is why if I say ‘I used to believe in the typical Nigerian politician’, it means I don’t believe in them anymore. Do you?I know some people still misuse the expression, thinking it covers what they still do at present. Hence, someone who always warns a child about some danger could say ‘I used to ask him not to play with the knife’. Yet, he means he still warns the lad — who is likely to have injured himself with the knife. That is bad English because ‘used to’ in this context means it was a habit already buried in the past. Perhaps what those who misuse ‘used to’ confuse it with is ‘used to’ + -ing verbs, which covers actions that have become a custom, which are still recurrent. In that case, we can say ‘I’m used to taking tea without sugar’.Compare:I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct, but I don’t do it anymore.)I am used to bathing with hot water. (Also correct, but I still do so as I am accustomed to it.)After the longish introduction, we return to the challenge posed by the title of today’s lesson, which requires the correct clause between ‘They didn’t used to’ and ‘They didn’t use to’. Of course, with the question, I am testing your knowledge of the negative form of ‘used to’. When referring to an action that was never part of your habit, how do you express it using ‘used to’ plus ‘not’? Do you say ‘I didn’t used to’ or ‘I didn’t use to’? Answer: the negative construction has to drop the ‘d’ in ‘used to’:I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct)I didn’t used to bathe with hot water. (Wrong)I didn’t use to bathe with hot water. (Correct) More explanation When forming a negative in the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ (or didn’t) carries the past tense marker. Because the past tense is already captured by ‘didn’t’, the main verb that follows must drop back to its base form (infinitive without to). Consider:Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) I know some people still misuse the expression, thinking it covers what they still do at present. Hence, someone who always warns a child about some danger could say ‘I used to ask him not to play with the knife’. Yet, he means he still warns the lad — who is likely to have injured himself with the knife. That is bad English because ‘used to’ in this context means it was a habit already buried in the past. Perhaps what those who misuse ‘used to’ confuse it with is ‘used to’ + -ing verbs, which covers actions that have become a custom, which are still recurrent. In that case, we can say ‘I’m used to taking tea without sugar’.Compare:I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct, but I don’t do it anymore.)I am used to bathing with hot water. (Also correct, but I still do so as I am accustomed to it.)After the longish introduction, we return to the challenge posed by the title of today’s lesson, which requires the correct clause between ‘They didn’t used to’ and ‘They didn’t use to’. Of course, with the question, I am testing your knowledge of the negative form of ‘used to’. When referring to an action that was never part of your habit, how do you express it using ‘used to’ plus ‘not’? Do you say ‘I didn’t used to’ or ‘I didn’t use to’? Answer: the negative construction has to drop the ‘d’ in ‘used to’:I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct)I didn’t used to bathe with hot water. (Wrong)I didn’t use to bathe with hot water. (Correct) More explanation When forming a negative in the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ (or didn’t) carries the past tense marker. Because the past tense is already captured by ‘didn’t’, the main verb that follows must drop back to its base form (infinitive without to). Consider:Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Compare:I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct, but I don’t do it anymore.)I am used to bathing with hot water. (Also correct, but I still do so as I am accustomed to it.)After the longish introduction, we return to the challenge posed by the title of today’s lesson, which requires the correct clause between ‘They didn’t used to’ and ‘They didn’t use to’. Of course, with the question, I am testing your knowledge of the negative form of ‘used to’. When referring to an action that was never part of your habit, how do you express it using ‘used to’ plus ‘not’? Do you say ‘I didn’t used to’ or ‘I didn’t use to’? Answer: the negative construction has to drop the ‘d’ in ‘used to’:I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct)I didn’t used to bathe with hot water. (Wrong)I didn’t use to bathe with hot water. (Correct) More explanation When forming a negative in the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ (or didn’t) carries the past tense marker. Because the past tense is already captured by ‘didn’t’, the main verb that follows must drop back to its base form (infinitive without to). Consider:Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct, but I don’t do it anymore.)I am used to bathing with hot water. (Also correct, but I still do so as I am accustomed to it.)After the longish introduction, we return to the challenge posed by the title of today’s lesson, which requires the correct clause between ‘They didn’t used to’ and ‘They didn’t use to’. Of course, with the question, I am testing your knowledge of the negative form of ‘used to’. When referring to an action that was never part of your habit, how do you express it using ‘used to’ plus ‘not’? Do you say ‘I didn’t used to’ or ‘I didn’t use to’? Answer: the negative construction has to drop the ‘d’ in ‘used to’:I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct)I didn’t used to bathe with hot water. (Wrong)I didn’t use to bathe with hot water. (Correct) More explanation When forming a negative in the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ (or didn’t) carries the past tense marker. Because the past tense is already captured by ‘didn’t’, the main verb that follows must drop back to its base form (infinitive without to). Consider:Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) I am used to bathing with hot water. (Also correct, but I still do so as I am accustomed to it.)After the longish introduction, we return to the challenge posed by the title of today’s lesson, which requires the correct clause between ‘They didn’t used to’ and ‘They didn’t use to’. Of course, with the question, I am testing your knowledge of the negative form of ‘used to’. When referring to an action that was never part of your habit, how do you express it using ‘used to’ plus ‘not’? Do you say ‘I didn’t used to’ or ‘I didn’t use to’? Answer: the negative construction has to drop the ‘d’ in ‘used to’:I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct)I didn’t used to bathe with hot water. (Wrong)I didn’t use to bathe with hot water. (Correct) More explanation When forming a negative in the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ (or didn’t) carries the past tense marker. Because the past tense is already captured by ‘didn’t’, the main verb that follows must drop back to its base form (infinitive without to). Consider:Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) After the longish introduction, we return to the challenge posed by the title of today’s lesson, which requires the correct clause between ‘They didn’t used to’ and ‘They didn’t use to’. Of course, with the question, I am testing your knowledge of the negative form of ‘used to’. When referring to an action that was never part of your habit, how do you express it using ‘used to’ plus ‘not’? Do you say ‘I didn’t used to’ or ‘I didn’t use to’? Answer: the negative construction has to drop the ‘d’ in ‘used to’:I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct)I didn’t used to bathe with hot water. (Wrong)I didn’t use to bathe with hot water. (Correct) More explanation When forming a negative in the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ (or didn’t) carries the past tense marker. Because the past tense is already captured by ‘didn’t’, the main verb that follows must drop back to its base form (infinitive without to). Consider:Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) I used to bathe with hot water. (Correct)I didn’t used to bathe with hot water. (Wrong)I didn’t use to bathe with hot water. (Correct) More explanation When forming a negative in the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ (or didn’t) carries the past tense marker. Because the past tense is already captured by ‘didn’t’, the main verb that follows must drop back to its base form (infinitive without to). Consider:Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) I didn’t used to bathe with hot water. (Wrong)I didn’t use to bathe with hot water. (Correct) More explanation When forming a negative in the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ (or didn’t) carries the past tense marker. Because the past tense is already captured by ‘didn’t’, the main verb that follows must drop back to its base form (infinitive without to). Consider:Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) I didn’t use to bathe with hot water. (Correct) More explanation When forming a negative in the past simple tense, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ (or didn’t) carries the past tense marker. Because the past tense is already captured by ‘didn’t’, the main verb that follows must drop back to its base form (infinitive without to). Consider:Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Tems used to be shy on stage. (Correct)Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Tems didn’t used to be shy on stage. (Wrong)Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Tems didn’t use to be shy on stage. (Correct)Related NewsWAFU U-20: Maikaba rues missed chances as Nigeria beat Ghana 4-2Cash outside banks drops by N486bn to seven-month lowTuggar disowns supporters backing Abubakar, denies endorsing APC candidateI used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) I used to watch cartoons. (Correct)I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) I didn’t used to watch cartoons. (Wrong)I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) I didn’t use to watch cartoons. (Correct)Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Remember, also, that even when the clause is not in the negative mode, the verb that follows ‘did’ is normally in the present tense:Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Adamu travelled yesterday.Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Adamu did travelled yesterday. (Wrong)Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Adamu did travel yesterday. (Correct)Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Lastly, although my friend, Tunde Odesola, will not like this example, my spirit says I should add it:Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Spain taught Argentina modern football.Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Spain did taught Argentina modern football. (Wrong)Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct) Spain did teach Argentina modern football. (Correct)