Revision as of 18:39, 5 January 2014

brouillon

Verb

morphology

• regular verb in the present and the past, as a clitic (used-to-V), the past tense marker -d is pronounced "t" by assimilation.

clitic /ju:stə/

• ju:stə V
• dɪdn^tju:stə V

semantics

used to V is translated with the imperfect in French. It is a nostalgic tense marker, it recalls the way things once were.

• When I was a kid, I used to ride my bike every day.
• We used to live in Bourg.
• I used to know him well, but it's been a long time since I've seen him.
• I used to believe in Santa Claus when I was a kid.

It can precede both state verbs (know, think) and action verbs (run, walk) -- unlike "would", which implies a series of events, not states:
(* = incorrect)

• When I was a kid, I would ride my bike every day.
• *We would live in Bourg. (future in the past = OK, but nostalgic imperfect = njet)
• *I would know him well, but it's been a long time since I've seen him. (concession = OK, but nostalgic imperfect = njet)
• *I would believe in Santa Claus, when I was a kid.

lexical verb

utilise. employ. make use of.

past participle --> adjective

used is an adjective meaning "second-hand". (d'occasion)

• used car
• used books
• used Kleenex

Noun

utilisation.

derived agent: -er

User.

derived adjectival noun

• use value
• fair use value
• user name