Is there a difference between     I didn't use to do that   and     I used to not to do that   For example,      I don't use to read books when I was a child.   Would both be correct? Is the second even correct grammatically?
1139
What is the negative form of "I used to be"? I often hear "I didn't used to be" but that sounds awfully wrong in my ears.
17732
I never really gave a deep thought at this but recently a teacher of talked about language and there was an implicit question in it. something like  there is a difference between "rather than" and "instead of" in usage. do you know it??  please help and explain with a few examples.
20219
Is it fine to use recently with the past simple tense in the following sentence?     Did you read any books recently?   Is it grammatically correct?  Or do I have to use:     Have you read any books recently?
14838
Which is the correct use of these two words, and in which context should one be used rather than the other?
644
He will understand that I was not joking.   He will understand I was not joking.  Which of the sentences is correct? Are there any specific rules about the use of &quot;that&quot; in the sentences I reported as example?
10455
I just realized that throughout my life I have interchanged "I recommend that you do X" and "I would recommend that you do X".  Is there a difference in their meanings in modern-day usage, or are they functionally the same?
60613
"Name three things that, if you were told were part of the job, would cause you to not take the position. "   I've just come across this sentence while reading the news.   Question is: Why to not is used instead of not to? This usage in this way imposes different meaning?
122037
Could anybody clear it to me whether these two sentence are grammatically equal? If not, what is the difference?     1) They must use some methods...    2) They are to use some methods...
7379
I'm helping someone learn English (second language), and I'm having trouble explaining when to use the and when not to. For example:     Students learn better when teachers are passionate about teaching.   versus     The students learn better when the teachers are passionate about teaching.   There's a subtle difference. The first one is a general statement, whereas the second might imply a study where a group of students learned better than another.  Is the difference simply that, general v. specific?
82424
I have a sentence:     Please show me the right way so that I can do that rather than take blind action.     Is this sentence grammatically correct?   Can I use instead of to replace rather than? If replaced, the meaning of this sentence is changed?   What is the difference between rather than and instead of? Can you show me some examples to distinguish them?
2595
When telling a story about myself from the past, I have found myself in an internal debate over whether the correct way to segue into the present is:     That was me twelve years ago.   Or:     That was I twelve years ago.   My instincts tell me the first is correct (object pronoun after a verb and it sounds better to my ears). But, I'm not sure if pronouns after linking verbs should be object pronouns. Which is correct?
89805
I was wondering which one is grammatically correct between "Why didn't (or did not) somebody do something?" and "Why did somebody not do something?"
72302
The two sentences here both indicate that, at some point in the past, I performed some work:   I did work I worked   What is the difference between these two sentences? Does constructing one with did and the other with a simple past change the meaning?
70759
Here's an example:  Should I use it or not?   OR  Should I use it, or not?   Which one is correct?
110994
I let him do it.   and     I allow him to do it.   Why does the latter require to?  What are the "rules" of using to with an infinitive? When is it necessary?
122956
Why can't you say:      "I insist you to do that!"     After all, you can say:      "I want you to do that!"   What's the difference between these two verbs, that they need to be used in sentences with different structures?
14436
Do you think that "was going to be" or "would be" could be used as past tense of will?     I thought this book was going to be your choice.        I thought this book would be your choice.   Do these two sentences basically mean the same thing or are they slightly different?