Use used to + infinitive for something that happened regularly in the past, or was true in the past, and is no longer the case. It has no present form.
A A past habit that has stopped
Dougie hardly ever goes dancing these days. He prefers a quiet night in with the crossword.
He used to go dancing every Friday and Saturday, however, and by all accounts he was rather good.
He used to go dancing means he went dancing often in the past, but he does not do it any more.
- Dougie used to go dancing every weekend.
- He used to come home at three in the morning.
- These days he's in bed by ten.
B Things that happened, or were true, and no longer are
I used to do something means I did it often in the past, but I do not do it now.
We also use used to for situations that were true in the past but are not true any more.
- I used to swim twice a week, but I've not been near a pool for months.
- Kath used to spend a fortune on takeaways. Now she cooks everything from scratch.
- "Do you still play the trumpet?" "Not now, but I used to." (I used to play)
- That bookshop on the corner used to be a bank.
- I used to think Gemma was a bit stuck-up, but she's actually very kind.
- I've started eating olives recently. I never used to like them.
- Our dad used to have a beard when we were little.
C used to is past only
I used to do is past. There is no present form; you cannot say "I use to do". For the present, use the present simple (I do).
| Past | Present |
|---|---|
| she used to work | she works |
| we used to live | we live |
| there used to be | there is / there are |
- We used to live in a terraced house in Barnsley, but now we live in a flat in Sheffield.
- There used to be three pubs in the village. Now there's only one.
D Questions and negatives
The normal question form is did (you) use to ...? Note the spelling: after did, it is use, not used.
The negative is didn't use to .... used not to ... is also possible, though it sounds more formal.
- Did you use to walk to school when you were little?
- I didn't use to like jazz. (or I used not to like jazz.)
E I used to do and I was doing
I used to do describes a habit or state over a period in the past. I was doing describes something in progress at a particular moment.
- I used to read in bed every night. (I did this regularly, but I don't now.)
- I was reading in bed when the power went off. (I was in the middle of reading.)
F Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing
I used to do and I am used to doing (see Unit 61) have different structures and different meanings. They resemble each other only in the way that a cat resembles a catalogue.
- I used to work nights. (I worked nights in the past, but I don't now.)
- I'm used to working nights. (I work nights, and it isn't a problem for me, because I've done it for a long time.)
Exercises
18.1 Complete each sentence with used to + a suitable verb.
Dougie used to go dancing every weekend, but he hardly ever goes now.
Dougie used to go dancing every weekend, but he hardly ever goes now.
Ravi a van, but he sold it last spring and bought a bike.
Ravi used to have a van, but he sold it last spring and bought a bike.
My aunt and uncle moved to Cornwall a few years ago. They in Wakefield.
My aunt and uncle moved to Cornwall a few years ago. They used to live in Wakefield.
Shona my next-door neighbour, but she moved away when I was twelve.
Shona used to be my next-door neighbour, but she moved away when I was twelve.
I hardly ever eat chocolate now, but I it all the time when I was a teenager.
I hardly ever eat chocolate now, but I used to eat it all the time when I was a teenager.
It's only twenty minutes to the coast now that the bypass is open. It nearly an hour.
It's only twenty minutes to the coast now that the bypass is open. It used to take nearly an hour.
There a swimming pool in the park, but they filled it in years ago.
There used to be a swimming pool in the park, but they filled it in years ago.
I in a call centre. It was not the highlight of my career.
I used to work in a call centre. It was not the highlight of my career.
18.2 Complete the sentences. Choose from the box.
diddidn'ttouseusedused toused to beused to havebe able
Our dad used to have a beard when we were little.
Our dad used to have a beard when we were little.
We to go to the seaside every summer, but we haven't been for years.
We used to go to the seaside every summer, but we haven't been for years.
Femi drives a bus now. He a postman.
Femi drives a bus now. He used to be a postman.
Which bands you use to listen to when you were at school?
Which bands did you use to listen to when you were at school?
I hate gardening, but now I spend every weekend on the allotment.
I used to hate gardening, but now I spend every weekend on the allotment.
When you lived in the country, how far did you to drive to the shops?
When you lived in the country, how far did you use to drive to the shops?
I don't go to the theatre very often now, but I used .
I don't go to the theatre very often now, but I used to.
I used to to touch my toes, but those days are long gone.
I used to be able to touch my toes, but those days are long gone.
I sleep much better than I did. I use to sleep more than five hours a night.
I sleep much better than I did. I didn't use to sleep more than five hours a night.
18.3 Ten years ago Gwen said: "I go camping a lot. I play the drums. I'm very untidy. I never drink coffee. I don't like football. I have a rabbit." Today she says: "I haven't been camping for years. I sold my drums ages ago. My flat is spotless these days. Coffee is wonderful. I watch every Leeds match now. My rabbit died last year." Write how Gwen has changed. Use used to / didn't use to / never used to in the first part of the sentence.
She used to go camping a lot, but she hasn't been for years.
She used to go camping a lot, but she hasn't been for years.
, but she sold them ages ago.
She used to play the drums, but she sold them ages ago.
, but her flat is spotless these days.
She used to be very untidy, but her flat is spotless these days.
, but now she thinks it's wonderful.
She never used to drink coffee, but now she thinks it's wonderful.
, but now she watches every Leeds match.
She didn't use to like football, but now she watches every Leeds match.
, but it died last year.
She used to have a rabbit, but it died last year.
18.4 Write sentences about yourself. In sentences 1 to 5, begin with I used to ... (be, work, like, play and so on). In sentences 6 to 8, begin with I didn't use to ...
I used to ...
Example answer: I used to share a flat with three people, but now I live on my own.
I used to ...
Example answer: I used to go running every morning, but I stopped when I hurt my knee.
I used to ...
Example answer: I used to work in a bakery, but now I work in an office.
I used to ...
Example answer: I used to be scared of dogs, but now I've got two.
I used to ...
Example answer: I used to play the violin when I was at school.
I didn't use to ...
Example answer: I didn't use to drink tea, but I do now.
I didn't use to ...
Example answer: I didn't use to enjoy cooking, but now I cook every evening.
I didn't use to ...
Example answer: I didn't use to get up early, but now I'm up at six.