I used to do something means I did it regularly in the past but I don't now. The negative is didn't use to, the question is did you use to, and there is no present form.
A He used to work in a factory
Dave used to work in a factory. Now he works in a garden centre.
Dave used to work in a factory means he worked there before, but he doesn't work there now.
- Kim used to drive a bus. Now she runs a café.
B used to + base form
used to is the same for everybody: I used to be, she used to have, they used to live.
- As a kid, I used to hate broccoli.
- I used to go running a lot, but I hardly ever run now.
- My dad is bald now, but he used to have curly hair.
- They used to live on our street, so we used to see them a lot. We hardly see them now.
- We used to have a caravan, but we got rid of it last year.
C didn't use to, did you use to?
The negative is I didn't use to. The question is did you use to ... ?
- When I was little, I didn't use to like tomatoes.
- Which school did you use to go to?
D Only for the past
Used to is only for the past. There is no present I use to. For now, use the present simple.
- I used to play the drums. Now I play the guitar. (not I use to play the guitar)
- We usually eat at seven. (not We use to eat at seven)
Exercises
36.1 Read the scenes and complete the sentences with used to.
An old photo of a woman with very long hair. Today her hair is short.
She used to have long hair.
She used to have long hair.
An old photo of a man in football kit. Today he is sitting on the sofa.
He football.
He used to play football.
An old photo of a woman beside a taxi. Today she works in an office.
She a taxi driver.
She used to be a taxi driver.
A family stands outside a flat in Leeds, holding a photo of a farmhouse from twenty years ago.
We in the country.
We used to live in the country.
36.2 Dan is a busy dad now and has no spare time. Before his children were born, life was different: he went climbing every weekend, played in a band, went to the pub most Fridays, painted, did a lot of baking and went abroad several times a year. Write sentences about Dan with used to.
(climbing)
He used to go climbing every weekend.
He used to go climbing every weekend.
(band)
He used to play in a band.
(Fridays)
He used to go to the pub most Fridays.
(painting)
He used to paint.
(baking)
He used to do a lot of baking.
(travel)
He used to go abroad several times a year.
36.3 Complete the sentences with used to or the present simple (I play, he lives and so on).
I used to play the violin. I gave it up when I left school.
I used to play the violin. I gave it up when I left school.
"Do you do any sport?" "Yes, I basketball."
"Do you do any sport?" "Yes, I play basketball."
"Have you got a car?" "No, I one, but I sold it."
"Have you got a car?" "No, I used to have one, but I sold it."
Ravi a trainee. Now he runs the whole department.
Ravi used to be a trainee. Now he runs the whole department.
"Do you cycle to college?" "Now and then, but usually I the bus."
"Do you cycle to college?" "Now and then, but usually I get the bus."
As a teenager, I never salad, but I love it now.
As a teenager, I never used to eat salad, but I love it now.
Mary loves watching telly. She it every evening.
Mary loves watching telly. She watches it every evening.
We near the airport, but we moved into town a few years ago.
We used to live near the airport, but we moved into town a few years ago.
Normally I start work at seven, so I up very early.
Normally I start work at seven, so I get up very early.
What games you when you were a child?
What games did you use to play when you were a child?