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

2.Used to for Past Habits

We use used to for actions we did regularly in the past and that do not happen now.

2.1Structure

Subject + used to + base verb

2.2Examples

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

3.Used to for Past States

We also use used to for past situations or states that were true before but are not true now.

3.1Examples

• “I used to be shy.”
• “She used to have long hair.”
• “We used to live in a small house.”
• “There used to be a cinema here.”
• “There used to be three shops on this street.”

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 be shy.”
• ✗ “She would be shy.” (not for a past state)

5.Negative Form

To make negatives, use did not use to.

5.1Structure

Subject + did not use to + base verb

5.2Examples

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

5.3Important

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

There is no present form use to. For present habits, use the present simple: “I play football every week.”

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.

6.1Structure

Did + subject + use to + base verb?

6.2Examples

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

6.3Short 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. The past simple can always replace used to, but it does not automatically show that the habit or state changed.

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.”

Use the past simple, not used to, for a stated number of occasions or one completed event:

• ✓ “I went to Paris three times.” → ✗ I used to go to Paris three times.
• ✓ “I visited Paris last year.” → ✗ I used to visit Paris last year.

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.