Used to

We use "used to" in English to talk about habits, routines, or situations that happened regularly in the past but no longer happen now. This is helpful when we want to describe things we did frequently in the past but have since stopped doing.

Used to - Past habits

This exercise focuses on Used to for past habits

How to Form Sentences with "Used to"

1. Affirmative Form

Structure: Subject + used to + base form of the verb
Example: "I used to play soccer every Saturday."

2. Negative Form

Structure: Subject + didn’t use to + base form of the verb
Example: "I didn’t use to like coffee, but now I drink it every day."

3. Question Form

Structure: Did + subject + use to + base form of the verb?
Example: "Did you use to play an instrument?"

When to Use "Used to"

For past habits that don’t happen anymore

Example: "She used to swim every morning." (She doesn’t swim every morning now.)

For situations that were true in the past but have changed

Example: "They used to live in New York." (They don’t live in New York anymore.)

Examples of "Used to" in Sentences

Past Habit: "I used to go running every evening."

Explanation: This means running every evening was a habit in the past, but now it isn’t.

Past Situation: "He used to be very shy when he was younger."

Explanation: He was shy in the past, but he isn’t shy anymore.

Negative Form: "We didn’t use to have a car, so we took the bus everywhere."

Explanation: They didn’t have a car in the past but might have one now.

Question Form: "Did you use to watch cartoons as a child?"

Explanation: This is asking if watching cartoons was a habit in the past.

More Examples of "Used to" for Past Habits

Sentence	Meaning
"I used to wake up early for school."	Waking up early was a past habit for school.
"They used to visit their grandparents every summer."	Visiting grandparents was a regular activity in the past.
"She didn’t use to eat vegetables."	She didn’t eat vegetables in the past, but maybe she does now.
"Did you use to ride a bike to school?"	Asking if riding a bike to school was a past habit.
"We used to play outside all day."	Playing outside all day was a past habit.

Comparing "Used to" with "Would" for Past Habits

"Used to" is common for both past habits and past situations or states.

Example: "She used to live in Italy." (living in Italy was a past situation)

"Would" can only be used for repeated actions or habits in the past, not for situations or states.

Example: "When we were kids, we would play outside every afternoon."
Incorrect: "She would live in Italy." (sounds wrong; use "used to" here)

Common Mistakes with "Used to"

Using "to" with the negative form:

Incorrect: "I didn’t used to like broccoli."
Correct: "I didn’t use to like broccoli."

Using the past tense of the verb after "used to":

Incorrect: "I used to went there every summer."
Correct: "I used to go there every summer."

Using "used to" for present habits:

Incorrect: "I used to go to the gym every day now."
Correct: "I go to the gym every day now."

FAQ

Can we use "used to" for present habits?

No, "used to" is only for past habits that no longer happen.

Can we use "would" instead of "used to" for past habits?

Yes, but only for repeated actions (e.g., "We would go to the beach every summer"). Use "used to" for both actions and situations (e.g., "She used to be shy").

Do we need "to" in negative and question forms?

In negative and question forms, use "use to" without the "d" (e.g., "Did you use to…?" or "I didn’t use to…").

Can we use "used to" with state verbs?

Yes, "used to" works with state verbs like "be," "have," and "know." For example, "I used to have a pet."

What’s the difference between "used to" and "usually"?

"Used to" is for past habits that don’t happen now, while "usually" describes habits that happen in the present.