Used to
Used to Grammar Guide
Form
Subject + used to + INF + Object
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Used to is a common structure in English used to refer to things in the past which are no longer true.
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used to + INF
did not (didn't) use to + INF
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Did + Subject + use to + INF...?
He used to play for Barcelona
We didn't use to enjoy watching the team
Did you use to live together?
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Important Notes
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Positive statements:
The used to form does not change in positive statements.
The structure is not used with to be as an auxiliary
It always refers to the past
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Negative forms:
The common form of the negative structure (as above) is did not use to or didn't use to.
It can be used with a final d (didn't used to) but is considered incorrect so do not use that structure in exam or formal environments.
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In very formal or even old fashioned language, the negative form can be used not to
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We used not to attend church on Fridays
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Question forms
Common use with auxiliary did. As with negative forms, it can be observed with a final d, but this structure should not be used in exam or formal situations as it is considered incorrect.
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Did you use to work with James in Leeds?
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Didn't you used to work with James in Leeds?
Question tag structures: Using a question tag with the auxiliary did is a common structure.
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You used to work with James in Leeds didn't you?
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Emphatic language
We can use the auxiliary did with used to to make the statement emphatic but this should not be used in a written form in exams
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I never used to work with James but I did use to live with him
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Function
This structure is used when:
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We refer to things in the past that are no longer true
This can refer to repeated actions, a state or situation
He used to play football but he is retired now
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We used to live in the UK but we moved to Spain
Used to or would
Used to or would can be used to talk about habits in the past with the same meaning.
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If we use them in tandem, used to is more commonly put first, to set the scene for the latter actions.
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When we were younger we got very excited on Christmas Day. We used to wake up really early to open our presents and our parents would tell us to go back to bed
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Used to but not would can be used to describe a state or situation that is no longer true.
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We used to live in Leeds
NOT: We would live in Leeds
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That pub used to be a church
NOT: That pub would be a church
Used to or be used to
Used to refers to the past.
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She used to study piano but she stopped
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Be used to means "to become familiar with" or "to be accustomed to" and can refer to past, present and future.
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She works in a hospital so she is used to working long hours
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She doesn't like living in the centre of London, she's not used to the noise
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We were used to travelling by night in those days
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Please note: Be used to is followed by a noun phrase, a gerund or pronoun.
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Get used to or more formally become used to can also be used.
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Spanish culture is very different, but you will soon get used to it
