Used To
"Used to + base verb" is only for past habits or states that have now stopped — it has no present-tense form, and questions/negatives drop the -d ("Did you use to...?", "didn't use to...") even though the positive form keeps it ("used to").
Formula
Examples
Common Time Markers
Usage
- •Past habits or repeated actions that no longer happen
- •Past states that are no longer true
- •Contrasting the past with the present
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Try 5 cards free — no signup →When do we use "used to"?
"Used to" describes past habits or repeated actions that no longer happen ("I used to play football every weekend") and past states that are no longer true ("He used to be very shy"). It always implies a contrast with the present — the situation has definitely changed.
Because it has no present-tense form, "used to" is only ever about the past; for a current habit, switch to present simple: "I used to smoke" (past habit, now stopped) vs "I smoke" (current habit).
"Used to" vs "be used to" vs "get used to"
"Used to + verb" (this topic) describes a past habit or state. "Be used to + -ing" means to be accustomed to something — a present state, not a past habit: "I'm used to waking up early" (I find it normal now). "Get used to + -ing" means to become accustomed to something — a process of adapting: "I'm getting used to the new schedule."
These three look alike but are grammatically unrelated beyond sharing the words "used to" — mixing them up is one of the most common confusions at this level.
"Used to" vs "would" for past habits
"Would + base verb" is a stylistic alternative to "used to," but only for repeated actions, not states: "We would go camping every summer" ✓ works like "used to," but "He would be shy" ✗ does not — "would" can't describe a past state, only a past habit.
"Used to" is the safer, more general choice since it covers both habits and states; "would" adds a narrative, storytelling feel but only to repeated actions.
Comparison Table
| Form | Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| used to + verb | A past habit or state, no longer true | I used to play football every weekend. | |
| be used to + -ing | Accustomed to something — a present state | I'm used to waking up early. | |
| get used to + -ing | Becoming accustomed — a process | I'm getting used to the new schedule. |
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Conjugation Table
| Pronoun | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / You / He / She / It / We / They | used to play | didn't use to play (did not) | Did you use to play? |
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When to Use Used To
Past habit, now stopped
I used to play football every weekend.
Past state, now changed
He used to be very shy.
Contrast with present
I didn't use to enjoy cooking, but I do now.
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More Examples
We used to go camping every summer.
Regular past habit, no longer done
He used to be very shy.
Past state that has changed
I didn't use to enjoy cooking, but I do now.
Past habit contrasted with present reality
Did she use to have long hair?
Question about a past state
Common Mistakes
- ✗"Used to" is only past — there is no present form: "I use to eat there" is wrong. Use Present Simple for current habits.
- ✗In questions and negatives, use "use to" (not "used to"): "Did you use to...?" not "Did you used to...?"
Tips
- ✓"Used to" implies the habit or state has stopped — it automatically signals a contrast with the present.
- ✓Do not confuse with "be used to + -ing" (= be accustomed to) or "get used to + -ing" (= become accustomed to).
Advanced Notes
"Used to" is exclusively past — there is no present-tense equivalent, which surprises many learners. It implies that the situation has definitely changed, making it stronger than Simple Past for signalling contrast. Native speakers frequently confuse it with two near-homonyms: "be used to + -ing" (= be accustomed to, a state) and "get used to + -ing" (= become accustomed to, a process) — these are completely different grammatically. "Would + infinitive" is a stylistic alternative for past habits only (not states): "We would go camping" ✓ but "He would be shy" ✗.
FAQ
"Used to" vs "would" — what's the difference?
Both describe repeated past actions ("We used to go camping" / "We would go camping every summer"), but only "used to" can describe a past state: "He used to be shy" is correct, "He would be shy" is not, because "would" only works for repeated actions, not states.
"Used to" vs "be used to" vs "get used to" — how are they different?
"Used to + verb" is a past habit or state that has stopped ("I used to live in Paris"). "Be used to + -ing" is a current state of being accustomed to something ("I'm used to the noise now"). "Get used to + -ing" is the process of becoming accustomed to something ("I'm getting used to my new job"). They share the words "used to" but are otherwise unrelated grammatically.
"Did you used to" or "did you use to" — which is correct?
"Did you use to...?" — in questions and negatives, drop the -d: "use to," not "used to." The -d only appears in positive statements: "I used to live here," "Did you use to live here?", "I didn't use to like it."
Can I say "I use to eat there" for a current habit?
No — "used to" is exclusively past; there's no present-tense form. For a current habit, use present simple instead: "I eat there" or "I often eat there," not "I use to eat there."
"Used to" vs past simple — which should I use?
Past simple states a fact about the past without necessarily contrasting it with the present: "I lived in Paris for two years." "Used to" specifically signals that the situation has changed and no longer applies: "I used to live in Paris" (but I don't anymore). For repeated habits, both work, but "used to" makes the "no longer true" contrast explicit.
Practice
- 1.We (use) to go camping every summer.
- 2.Did she (use) to have long hair?
- 3.I didn't (use) to enjoy cooking, but I do now.
- 4.He (use) to be very shy.
- 5.I'm (use) to waking up early now — it doesn't bother me anymore.
Compare With
Other B1 Topics
Present Perfect
Used for past actions that still matter or connect to now
Present Perfect Continuous
Used for ongoing actions that started in the past and still continue
Modal Verbs
Expresses ability, obligation, permission, or possibility
Passive Voice (Basic)
Used for sentences where the action or result matters more than who did it
Future Continuous
Used for actions in progress at a specific future moment
Question Tags
Used for confirming information or seeking agreement at the end of a statement
Linking Words: However, Although, Despite, In Spite Of
Used for connecting contrasting ideas using concession and contrast markers
Relative Clauses (Defining)
Clauses that identify exactly which person, thing, or place you mean.
So and Such
Use so before adjectives/adverbs and such before nouns to emphasize degree, often followed by a that-clause showing the result.
Order of Adjectives
The fixed order adjectives usually follow before a noun: opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose.
Future Time Clauses
Use present simple, not will, after when/as soon as/before/after/until/once even when the meaning is future.
Subject and Object Questions
Who broke it? vs Who did you see? — question word as subject or object.