http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishVocabularyIdiom-Questions/Forum29.htmHelp with defining words and idioms, and new words and idioms that you've learntenXMOD (Build: 3614.32638)http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDatedHimOnce/dzpvr/post.htm#280013Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:54:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:280013khoff0http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDatedHimOnce/dzpvr/post.htm#280013http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-280013.xmlI agree with Mr. Micawber (of course!) but I would add that in a conversation (rather than writing), if the emphasis is on "dated" it's more likely to mean "I used to date him," (I can't believe I actually dated him once!) and if the emphasis is on "once," it's more likely to mean "I dated him one time." (I dated him once - that was more than enough!)http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDatedHimOnce/dzpvr/post.htm#279552Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:54:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:279552Teleostomi1http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDatedHimOnce/dzpvr/post.htm#279552http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-279552.xmlThank you, Mr Mic, your leaves are always faithful (from the song Tannenbaum)http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDatedHimOnce/dzpvr/post.htm#279534Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:54:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:279534Mister Micawber2http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDatedHimOnce/dzpvr/post.htm#279534http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-279534.xmlIt could be either. #2 is the expected, because used to is more common phraseology.http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDatedHimOnce/dzpvr/post.htmSat, 24 Jan 2009 04:54:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:279531Teleostomi3http://www.englishforums.com/English/IDatedHimOnce/dzpvr/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-279531.xmlI dated him once . Does this mean (1) I used to date him. or (2) I only dated him one time?