Phaedrus
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2012
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- English
- Home Country
- United States
- Current Location
- United States
I was wondering if my fellow native speakers find it acceptable for the past perfect to be used with used to:
(1a) I used to smoke.
(1b) ? In 1995, I had not used to smoke. (versus: In 1995, I did not use(d) to smoke. / In 1995, it was not the case that I used to smoke.)
(2a) He said, "I used to smoke."
(2b) ? He said that he had used to smoke. (versus without "backshift": He said that he used to smoke.)
The (b) sentences do not sit well with me, but I can't quite say I find them ungrammatical. What do you think?
Thank you.
(1a) I used to smoke.
(1b) ? In 1995, I had not used to smoke. (versus: In 1995, I did not use(d) to smoke. / In 1995, it was not the case that I used to smoke.)
(2a) He said, "I used to smoke."
(2b) ? He said that he had used to smoke. (versus without "backshift": He said that he used to smoke.)
The (b) sentences do not sit well with me, but I can't quite say I find them ungrammatical. What do you think?
Thank you.