Used to (Past Habits and States)

We use used to to talk about past habits and past states that changed (they were true before, but they are not true now).

1. What Does "Used to" Mean?

used to shows:

• past habits (things you did regularly)
• past states (things that were true before)

It means: before, but not now
Examples:

• "I used to play football." (Now I don’t.)
• "She used to live in Paris." (Now she doesn’t.)

2. Used to for Past Habits

We use used to for actions we did regularly in the past.

Structure

Subject + used to + base verb

Examples

• "I used to wake up early."
• "He used to play the piano."
• "They used to visit us every weekend."

Meaning

These were repeated actions in the past.

3. Used to for Past States

We also use used to for past situations or states.

Examples

• "I used to be shy."
• "She used to have long hair."
• "We used to live in a small house."

Meaning

These things were true before, but not now.

4. Used to vs Would for Past Habits

For repeated past actions, we can sometimes use either used to or would:

• “When I was a child, I used to play outside every evening.”
• “When I was a child, I would play outside every evening.”

Would normally needs a clear past-time context, such as when I was a child. Use used to, not would, for past states:

• ✓ “She used to have long hair.”
• ✗ “She would have long hair.” (not for a past state)

5. Negative Form

To make negatives, use did not use to.

Structure

Subject + did not use to + base verb

Examples

• "I did not use to like coffee."
• "She didn’t use to eat vegetables."
• "We didn’t use to go out a lot."

Important

After did, we use use to (not used to).

You may also see used not to (less common): "I used not to like coffee." For this lesson, use didn’t use to.

6. Questions

To make questions, use did.

Structure

Did + subject + use to + base verb?

Examples

• "Did you use to play football?"
• "Did she use to live here?"
• "Did they use to travel a lot?"

Short answers

• "Yes, I did." / "No, I didn’t."

7. Used to vs Be/Get Used to

8. Past Change vs a Situation That Is Still True

Use used to when the past situation is different now. Use the present simple with still when the situation continues.

Past and present meaning	Example
a positive past habit stopped	“I used to drink coffee. Now I don’t.”
a negative past habit changed	“I didn’t use to exercise. Now I exercise every day.”
the situation continues now	“I still live in Madrid.” (It was true before and is true now.)

The sentence “I used to live in Madrid” normally suggests that I do not live there now. If I continue to live there, say “I still live in Madrid.”

9. Used to vs Past Simple

Both talk about the past, but the meaning is different.

Used to = repeated habit / long state in the past (no exact time). Past simple = a finished action at a specific time (or a finished past event).

Used to → past habit or state (not true now)

• "I used to play tennis."

Past simple → action in the past (no idea about now)

• "I played tennis yesterday."

10. Easy Way to Remember

Think:

• Before: used to.
• Now: different.

Use used to to talk about past habits or states that are not true now.