used to (past habits and states)
We use "used to + base verb" to talk about past habits, repeated actions, and states that were true before but are not true now.
Form: used to + base verb
To talk about the past, we use "used to" followed by the base form of the verb (the infinitive without "to"). The form is the same for all subjects: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. It always refers to the past, so there is no present form of this structure.
- •I used to play football every weekend.
- •She used to live in a small village.
- •We used to be best friends.
- •They used to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings.
Meaning: past habits and past states
"Used to" describes something that happened regularly in the past but does not happen now. It can also describe a past state or situation that has changed. The key idea is that the action or state was true before but is no longer true today.
- •He used to smoke, but he stopped two years ago.
- •There used to be a cinema here, but now it is a supermarket.
- •I used to hate vegetables when I was a child.
- •My grandparents used to write letters before they had email.
Negatives and questions
In negatives and questions, we use "did" and change "used to" back to "use to" (without the final -d). For negatives, we say "didn't use to". For questions, we put "Did" at the start and use "use to". Be careful with the spelling: after "did" or "didn't", we drop the -d.
- •I didn't use to like coffee, but now I love it.
- •Did you use to have long hair?
- •She didn't use to go to the gym.
- •Did they use to live near the beach?