Meaning: past habits and states
Used to describes habits, routines, or states that were true in the past but are no longer true now. It suggests a contrast with the present.
"I used to play tennis every weekend." (= I don't play now)
"She used to live in London." (= she doesn't live there now)
"We used to have a dog." (= we don't have one now)
"She used to live in London." (= she doesn't live there now)
"We used to have a dog." (= we don't have one now)
Form
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | subject + used to + bare infinitive | I used to smoke. · He used to be shy. |
| Negative | subject + didn't use to + bare infinitive | I didn't use to like vegetables. · She didn't use to wear glasses. |
| Question | Did + subject + use to + bare infinitive? | Did you use to play an instrument? · Where did he use to live? |
Spelling: "use to" in negatives/questions!
In positives: "used to" (with d). In negatives and questions, "did" already carries the past, so: "didn't USE TO" (no d), "Did you USE TO" (no d). ✓ "I used to like it." ✓ "I didn't use to like it."
Used to vs Past Simple
Both describe past actions, but "used to" emphasises that the habit is finished and things are different now.
| Sentence | What it implies |
|---|---|
| "I lived in Paris for two years." | neutral statement about the past (no strong contrast with present) |
| "I used to live in Paris." | strong contrast — I don't live there now, things are different |
| "She played tennis yesterday." | a specific past event (not a repeated habit) |
| "She used to play tennis." | a repeated past habit that she no longer does |
Used to = only past!
"Used to" only exists in the past. There is no present form: ✗ "I use to play tennis." (wrong) · ✓ "I usually play tennis." (present habit → use "usually/always/often" + present simple)
Exercises
Choose the correct option.
1. When I was a child, I ___ hate vegetables, but now I love them.
2. She ___ wear glasses, but then she had laser eye surgery.
3. ___ you use to go to the cinema a lot before streaming services?
4. I ___ speak any Spanish, but after living there for a year, I'm quite good now.
5. My grandparents ___ have a shop in the town centre.