What Does ‘Used To’ Mean in English?

The phrase used to helps us describe things that were true in the past but are not true anymore. It focuses on a contrast between past and present.

We use it for two main situations:

• Past Habits: Actions you did regularly in the past, but you don’t do them now.
• Past States: Situations, facts, or conditions that were true in the past, but they have changed.

How Do We Form Sentences with 'Used To'?

The structure for used to is quite simple. You always follow it with the base form of a verb (the infinitive without to).

• Positive Sentences: Use used to for all subjects.
  • I used to play football every day.
  • She used to live in London.
• Negative Sentences: Use didn't use to. Notice that used changes to use because did already shows the past tense.
  • We didn't use to have a car.
  • He didn't use to like vegetables.
• Questions: Use Did at the beginning, and use to (without the 'd') after the subject.
  • Did you use to watch cartoons?
  • Did they use to visit you often?
• Short Answers:
  • Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.

When Should You Use 'Used To'?

Use used to when you want to emphasize that something was a regular activity or a continuous state in the past, but it is no longer true today.

• To describe past routines:
  • My grandmother used to bake bread every Sunday. (She doesn't do it now.)
• To talk about past characteristics or facts:
  • That building used to be a cinema. (Now it's something else.)
• To compare the past with the present:
  • I used to be shy, but now I'm very outgoing.

'Used To' vs. Past Simple: What's the Difference?

Both used to and the Past Simple talk about the past. However, used to has a special meaning.

• Use used to when you want to clearly state that a past habit or state is finished or different now. It highlights the change.
  • I used to play tennis a lot. (Implies I don't play much now.)
• You can use the Past Simple for past habits too, but it doesn't always emphasize the change from past to present. It can also describe single past events.
  • I played tennis a lot when I was younger. (This is fine, but used to makes the contrast clearer.)
  • I played tennis yesterday. (This is a single event, so used to is incorrect here.)

Examples

• My family used to go to the beach every summer.
• She didn't use to like coffee, but now she drinks it daily.
• Did you use to have a pet when you were a child?
• This park used to be a forest many years ago.
• I used to read books all the time, but now I prefer podcasts.
• They used to live in a bigger house.
• He didn't use to travel much, but now he visits new countries every year.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Common Mistakes with Used To

• Spelling in Negatives and Questions: Many learners incorrectly keep the 'd' in used to when forming negatives and questions.
  • Incorrect: I didn't used to like spinach.
  • Correct: I didn't use to like spinach.
  • Incorrect: Did you used to live here?
  • Correct: Did you use to live here?
• Using used to for single past events: Remember, used to is for repeated actions or states over a period, not for one-time events.
  • Incorrect: I used to visit my aunt last weekend. (This was a single event.)
  • Correct: I visited my aunt last weekend.
  • Correct: I used to visit my aunt every summer. (This was a repeated habit.)
• Confusing with be used to or get used to: These phrases look similar but have completely different meanings. Be used to means 'be accustomed to' (e.g., I am used to waking up early), and get used to means 'become accustomed to' (e.g., I'm getting used to the cold weather). Used to (without be or get) is only for past habits/states.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main purpose of 'used to'?

The main purpose of used to is to talk about actions or situations that happened regularly or were true in the past, but are no longer true or do not happen now. It highlights a change from the past to the present.

Is there a present form of 'used to'?

No, there is no present form of used to. It is only used to talk about the past. To describe present habits, you would use the Present Simple (e.g., I play football every week).

Can I use 'would' instead of 'used to'?

Sometimes, you can use would to talk about past habits (e.no-translation>When I was a child, we would often visit my grandparents). However, you cannot use would for past states (e.g., I used to have long hair – would is incorrect here). Also, used to is always correct for both habits and states, making it more versatile for B1 learners.

How might 'used to' appear in the B1 Preliminary exam?

In the B1 Preliminary (PET) exam, you might find used to in the Reading and Writing Part 3 (Sentence Transformation) or Part 6 (Open Cloze) tasks. For example, you might need to rewrite a sentence using used to to express a past habit, or choose the correct form of use to to complete a gap.

Related lessons

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