didn't have to vs wouldn't have to

   Share on Facebook  
Anonymous  #283462  Fri, 20 Oct 06 12:04 PM
Hi, I'm desperate for help here. There is this exercise in a first certificate book where pupils have to underline the incorrect verb form in this sentence:
"Only poor women who couldn't afford servants didn't use to have to / wouldn't have to /didn't have to wear corsets"
I've got the answer key at the back of the book and the incorrect option seems to be the first one. It does sound funny to me but I really can't see why the first one is incorrect but the second isn't, when both of them are used to express habit in the past.
I'd really appreciate it if I could get some help here.
  
Mister Micawber  #283476  Fri, 20 Oct 06 01:02 PM

I responded HERE, Monica.

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004
Yokohama
Veteran Member (21,306)
SystemAdministratorTeachers
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'
Marius Hancu  #283489  Fri, 20 Oct 06 01:22 PM
>didn't use to have to

As MM mentioned in his posting in the other thread, that's quite awkward for standard speech.

Both the 2nd and the 3rd options seem fine to me. I'd prefer the 3rd.  2nd is more tentative.
  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006
Montreal, Canada
Veteran Member (11,673)
Proficient Speaker
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service