“Used to + infinitive” is a grammatical structure in English that we use to talk about past habits, repeated actions, or situations that are no longer true in the present. It emphasizes that something was once common or regular but has now changed.
Structure
The structure follows this pattern: Subject + used to + infinitive verb
- I used to play football.
- She used to live in Paris.
- They used to visit their grandmother every Sunday.
For negative sentences:
- I didn’t use to like coffee.
- He didn’t use to wear glasses.
Notice that in negative forms, we typically use “didn’t use to” (without a ‘d’ on “use”).
For questions:
- Did you use to play any sports?
- Did she use to study French?
When to Use “Used to”
- Past habits or repeated actions that no longer happen
- I used to go fishing with my grandfather when I was a child. (This means I went fishing regularly in the past, but I don’t go fishing now.)
- She used to smoke, but she quit five years ago. (She had the habit of smoking in the past, but not anymore.)
- Past states or situations that are no longer true
- This building used to be a factory. (It was a factory in the past, but it’s something else now.)
- I used to have long hair. (I had long hair in the past, but I don’t have long hair now.)
Important Notes
- “Used to” always refers to the past. It cannot be used to talk about present or future habits.
- “Used to” emphasizes that these actions or states don’t happen anymore or aren’t true anymore.
- Don’t confuse “used to + infinitive” with “be used to + -ing” or “get used to + -ing” which have different meanings related to being accustomed to something.
Examples in Context
- When I was a teenager, I used to play video games all day, but now I don’t have time.
- My grandmother used to tell us wonderful stories about her childhood.
- This neighborhood used to be very quiet, but now it’s quite busy.
- I didn’t use to like spicy food, but now I love it.
- Did you use to visit your family often when you lived abroad?
Comparing “Used to” with Simple Past
Both “used to” and the simple past can talk about past actions, but “used to” specifically emphasizes that:
- The action was habitual or repeated
- The situation has changed
Compare:
- I played tennis last weekend. (Simple past – a single action)
- I used to play tennis. (Used to – a regular activity that I no longer do)
Practice Speaking
Try pronouncing these sentences:
- He used to work in a bank before starting his own business.
- We used to live near the beach, but we moved to the city five years ago.
- Did you use to believe in Santa Claus when you were a child?
- My sister didn’t use to like vegetables, but now she’s a vegetarian.
- People used to write letters, but now most people send emails or text messages.
Remember that “used to” is a great way to talk about how things have changed from the past to the present. Practice using it to talk about your own past habits and how your life has changed over time.