The phrase someone used to is used to talk about habits in past.
A year ago, I used to (not) do stuff.
Now I was wondering about a particular kind of question. They are kind of rhetorical and they contain a negative:
Wasn't he British?!
Here's an example: I read a book and 10 pages in I realize how much writing sucks. I actually like the author. I tell a friend and he or she says...
Really. Didn't he use to write really well?!
- Is that correct (I suppose not)?
- Would it be understood?
- What could I say instead?
Also...
- would the following be understood as an attempted play with the language:
Usedn't he to write very well?!
Wasn't he the guy you used to date a year ago?
;He used to write, didn't he?
– mplungjan Feb 24 '14 at 17:45