‘used to’
We use used to + infinitive:
Positive:
I used to work. → We used to work.
You used to work. → You used to work.
he/ she/ it used to work. → They used to work.
Negative:
I/ you/ he/ she/ it/ we/ you/ they didn't use to work.
Questions:
Did I/ you/ he/ she/ it/ we/ you/ they use to work?
Short answers:
Yes, I did
No, you didn't
We use ‘used to’ to talk about habits in the past, for things which we always/ usually/ often/ never did in the past. We don't do these things now:
I used to live in London but now I live in Canterbury.
She used to be a teacher but now she is a bookseller.
They used to travel by train but now they prefer to fly.
Did you use to get up early when you were a student?
Did your grandfather use to travel by steam train?
I didn't use to like eating vegetables but now I do.
She never used to want to get married but now she does.
We use either used to or the Past Simple for habits in the past:
I lived in London.
We use the Past Simple, not used to, for a past action which was not a habit.
I bought a new car in March. (Not: I used to buy a new car.)
But I used to buy a new dress every week. (= it was a regular habit)
We use used to only about the past. For a habit in the present, we use a normal Present Simple verb.
She used to go dancing every night (past habit)
Her sister goes dancing every night. (present habit)
Click here for Exercise-1
