"didn't usually" or "usually didn't" ??

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veronie

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I think the the meaning of the two is very close. It's not so much a grammar issue; more of a emphasis issue. This is how I read the two sentences:

"The restaurant's lively atmosphere didn't usually bother her" — She may never have been bothered by the restaurant before, but now she is.

“The restaurant's lively atmosphere usually didn't bother her” — She has been bothered by the restaurant before, but on rare occasion.
 

Shadow_Ferret

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HaleyDaulton said:
In the sentence, which is correct usage:

The restaurant's lively atmosphere didn't usually bother her. OR
The restaurant's lively atmosphere usually didn't bother her.

?? Thanks!

I'm curious, but is "didn't bother" a form of "to be?" Would "didn't usually bother" be a split infinitive? I'm just asking because I've never really been sure about that rule.
 
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