Which expression is correct?

Question

I am solving a reading question. And I found a sentence sounds strange. Would you read the next and tell me which one is better to use?

.............................................................

Villagers heard a deer barking in the distance, but they were not the only ones to hear it. A leopard, stretched full-length on a large tree branch, heard it, too. The leopard raised its head and then got up slowly. Deer were its natural prey, but there weren't many left in this area. So, the leopard began to attack dogs and cattle in the village. After several attacks, the villagers no longer allowed their cattle to wander far, and at night they were securely locked into their barns. Favorite dogs, (a) used to walking / (b) used to walk around the village at night, were now called indoors before sunset.

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(a) would be contracted from ' which were used to walking'. Then it means that 'Dogs are familiar to walk around at night' isnt it?

(b) would be contracted from 'which used to walk' and it means 'dogs walked around before but not now.'

So, I think the answer should be (b). But the given answer is (a). What do you think?

Please give me an answer. and Thank you.

Philip · Accepted Answer

Jisu98
I am solving a reading question. And I found a sentence sounds strange. Would you read the next and tell me which one is better to use?

.............................................................

Villagers heard a deer barking in the distance, but they were not the only ones to hear it. A leopard, stretched full-length on a large tree branch, heard it, too. The leopard raised its head and then got up slowly. Deer were its natural prey, but there weren't many left in this area. So, the leopard began to attack dogs and cattle in the village. After several attacks, the villagers no longer allowed their cattle to wander far, and at night they were securely locked into their barns. Favorite dogs, (a) used to walking / (b) used to walk around the village at night, were now called indoors before sunset.

...................................................................

(a) would be contracted from ' which were used to walking'. Then it means that 'Dogs are familiar to walk around at night' isnt it?

(b) would be contracted from 'which used to walk' and it means 'dogs walked around before but not now.'

So, I think the answer should be (b). But the given answer is (a). What do you think?

Please give me an answer. and Thank you.

In (a), "used to" is used as a modifyer of dogs, meaning they were accustomed to the activity, hence the commas. Without commas: "used to walk around the village at night and are now called indoors.......... (two verbs referring to the activity of the dogs, active in the first, passive in the second).

Jisu98 · Answer

Thank you! English is really really difficult. If (b) is used, then, the dog used (for people or st ) to walk around at night? Thank you again.

Marius Hancu · Answer

"used to (verb)" means that the action indicated by the (verb) was habitually performed in past times.

The verb must be in infinitive, thus (b).

MrPedantic · Answer

Moreover, if you want to use "used to" in its sense of a repeated past action, you have to provide a relative pronoun:

1. Favorite dogs, which used to walk around the village at night, were now called indoors before sunset.

MrP

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