HOMEWORK

HOMEWORK

USED TO

Used as an adjective. Use to be + used to. This means to be accustomed to. Used as a verb. Use to + verb is a regular verb and means something that happened but doesn't happen any more. It uses -ed to show past tense. But since it always means something that happened in the past, it should always use past tense.

Remember, we always use this word when talking about the past. So when do you use use to without the d at the end? When the base form of the verb is used.

Used to = an action or habit that was common in the PAST but not anymore.

This should not be confused with.

To be used to = accustomed to something (normally out of habit or experience)

Notice how Used to ends in –ed which normally means the verb is in the past tense.

• I used to drink coffee every morning but now I drink tea.

• She used to live in London but now she lives in New York.

• He used to play football professionally but he had to quit because of an injury.

These sentences refer to a past habit or a continuous action in the past and they are affirmative.

BUT…

Used to in Negative

If we want to make a negative sentence, the didn’t part shows that we are talking about the past tense.

It is NOT common to use Used to in negative form though we will show you how to do it anyway.

Compare the normal past tense:

• I played rugby on Saturday. (past - affirmative)

• I didn’t play rugby on Saturday. (past – negative – play doesn’t have the –ed at the end because the auxiliary didn’t tells us that the sentence is in the past tense)

And now let’s see a sentence with Used to:

• I used to like her, but now I hate her.

• I didn’t use to like her but now I think she is great.

Many times we use never instead of didn’t. In this case we use “used” in past tense. Compare:

• I didn’t use to smoke.

• I never used to smoke.

Used to in Questions

As with normal questions in the past tense, we use the base form of the verb (not the verb in past tense), since the auxiliary DID shows us that the question is in the past tense.

• + I used to ride a bike to school every day.

• - I didn’t use to ride a bike to school. I would normally go by bus.

• ¿Did you use to ride a bike to school when you were a child?

Some more examples

• What did you use to do after school when you were a kid?

• Where did you use to go on vacation with your parents?

Why do people sometimes write Use to instead of Used to in English?

Well, when we say used to, the final D in the verb used is pronounced like a T and since the next word (TO) also begins with the T sound, it seems like there is only one T (that belonging to the word TO).

When speaking, we frequently run words together (join words) so it would sound like Use-to.

Used to and Would

Sometimes we can replace Used to with would.

• My grandfather used to do exercises every day before work.

• My grandfather would do exercises every day before work.

We use 'used to' for something that happened regularly in the past but no longer happens.

• I used to smoke a packet a day but I stopped two years ago.

• Ben used to travel a lot in his job but now, since his promotion, he doesn't.

• I used to drive to work but now I take the bus.

We also use it for something that was true but no longer is.

• There used to be a cinema in the town but now there isn't.

• She used to have really long hair but she's had it all cut off.

• I didn't use to like him but now I do.

'Used to do'

...