Use of used to
English has many expressions that help speakers convey time, habit, and contrast between past and present. One such expression is used to. Although it’s common in everyday speech, learners often find its forms and uses confusing. This post will explain the grammar, meanings, forms, common errors, and provide numerous examples and practice tips so you can use used to accurately and confidently.
Table of contents
- What used to means
- Forms of used to
- Uses and functions
- Habitual past actions
- Past states
- Contrast with present
- Differences from similar structures
- be used to vs used to
- get used to
- Simple past vs used to
- would for past habits
- Negatives and questions
- Pronunciation and contraction
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Practice exercises with answers
- Tips for learners
- Summary
1. What “used to” means
Used to is a semi-fixed expression used mainly to talk about actions or states that happened regularly in the past but no longer happen in the present. It emphasizes the difference between the past routine or condition and the current situation.
- Example (habit): I used to jog every morning. (I jogged regularly before; I probably don’t anymore.)
- Example (state): She used to live in Paris. (She lived in Paris in the past; she doesn’t now.)
Key idea: Used to marks habitual or continuous past situations that are now finished or changed.
2. Forms of “used to”
The basic affirmative form is:
- Subject + used to + base form of verb (infinitive without “to”)
- I used to play piano.
- They used to visit us every summer.
Other forms include negatives and questions (see section 5). Note that in spoken English and some informal writing, the pronunciation often sounds like /ˈjuːstə/ or /ˈjuːstə/.
Important: used to is followed by a bare infinitive (e.g., used to go, not used to going). Do not confuse it with be used to or get used to, which follow different patterns and meanings (discussed later).
3. Uses and functions
Habitual past actions
Most common use: routines or repeated actions in the past.
- I used to smoke. (I smoked regularly in the past; I don’t now.)
- We used to eat dinner at 6 p.m. every night.
This use focuses on repetition and regularity in the past.
Past states
Used to also describes states or situations that existed in the past but are no longer true.
- He used to be a teacher. (He was a teacher before; not now.)
- There used to be a cinema on this street. (A cinema existed there in the past.)
This is useful for describing circumstances, relationships, locations, or conditions that have changed.
Contrast with the present
The implication of used to is contrast: what was true then is not true now. It often invites the listener to consider the change:
- I used to like spicy food. (Now I don’t.)
- We used to be best friends. (But we are not now.)
4. Differences from similar structures
Learners often mix up used to with several similar expressions. Here are clear distinctions.
a) “be used to” vs “used to”
These are very different.
- used to + verb (bare infinitive): talks about past habits/states that no longer happen.
- She used to work nights. (past habit)
- be used to + noun/verb-ing: indicates familiarity or comfort with something (present or past).
- She is used to working nights. (she is accustomed to it)
- He was used to poor conditions. (in the past, he was accustomed)
Mnemonic: If you can replace the phrase with “accustomed to” or “familiar with,” then you need be used to + -ing / noun.
Examples:
- Correct: I am used to the noise. (I’m accustomed to it.)
- Wrong: I am used to go to school. (Should be: I used to go to school — past habit — or I am used to going to school — I’m accustomed.)
b) “get used to”
Get used to means to become accustomed over time. Structure: get used to + noun/verb-ing.
- I got used to living alone. (I became accustomed.)
- She will get used to the early starts.
Note the progressive/adaptive meaning: it’s about the process of becoming accustomed.
c) Simple past vs “used to”
Both can describe past events, but they differ in nuance.
- Simple past describes a specific, completed action or series of actions:
- I lived in Tokyo in 2010. (a definite period)
- Used to emphasizes habitual or continuous action in the past and suggests contrast with present:
- I used to live in Tokyo. (habitual or past state; now I don’t live there)
You can often use either, but used to is preferred when the speaker wants to stress the routine or change.
d) “would” for past habits
Would can describe repeated past actions (often with a sense of nostalgia), but it cannot be used for past states.
- Habit with would: When we were kids, we would spend every summer at the lake.
- But for states:
- I used to know the answer. (state) — Correct
- I would know the answer. — Incorrect for expressing past state
Also, would often requires a time-frame to make sense: “When we were at university, we would…” While used to can stand alone without additional time context.
5. Negatives and questions
Negatives
Use auxiliary did to make negatives and questions in the past:
- Negative: Subject + did not (didn’t) + use to + base verb
- I didn’t use to like coffee.
- They didn’t use to travel much.
Note: Even though affirmative uses used (with -ed form), negatives and questions use use (bare) after did because the past tense is already carried by did. Many learners make the mistake of saying didn’t used to, which is commonly heard in informal speech but is nonstandard; correct form is didn’t use to.
However, in informal spoken English, you might hear both “didn’t use to” and “didn’t used to.” For writing and formal speech, prefer didn’t use to.
Questions
Form questions with did:
- Did you use to play tennis?
- Where did she use to live?
Again, use use (not used) after did.
Short answers
- Did you use to live there? — Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.
6. Pronunciation and contraction
- Affirmative: used to — often pronounced /ˈjuːstə/ or /ˈjuːstə/ in rapid speech. Many native speakers say something sounding like “yoosta”.
- Negative: didn’t use to — sounds like /ˈdɪdnt juːst tuː/; in fast speech often reduced.
- Contractions:
- I used to -> I used to (no common contraction)
- Didn’t use to -> didn’t use to (contracted didn’t)
Be aware that spoken forms can hide the “d” and make the phrase sound slightly different from the written form.
7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Wrong: I used to going to that school.
Right: I used to go to that school.
Tip: For past habitual actions, follow used to with the bare infinitive. - Wrong: I am used to go early.
Right: I am used to going early.
Tip: If meaning “accustomed,” use be used to + -ing. - Wrong: Did you used to live here?
Right: Did you use to live here?
Tip: Questions and negatives with did use the base form use. - Wrong: I would be a child.
Right: I used to be a child.
Tip: Use would only for actions, not for states like age or relationships. - Overuse: Non-native learners sometimes overuse used to to mean past tense in general. Reserve used to for repeated past actions or past states you want to contrast with the present.
8. Practice exercises with answers
Try these to test your understanding. Fill in the blanks.
- When I was a child, I _____ (play) soccer every day.
- There _____ (be) a bridge here, but it was destroyed.
- _____ you _____ (go) to that school?
- She _____ (not/like) tea when she was younger.
- We _____ (get) used to the noise after a few months. (use the correct form of get/become used to)
Answers:
- used to play
- used to be
- Did you use to go
- didn’t use to like
- got used to (or became used to) the noise
More practice variations:
- Turn these sentences into negatives and questions.
- Convert statements using simple past into sentences using used to when they describe repeated actions.
9. Tips for learners
- Use used to when you want to stress that something was habitual or true in the past but is not now.
- If the sentence describes being accustomed to something, use be/get used to + -ing/noun.
- For negatives and questions, remember the auxiliary did + base verb: didn’t use to, did you use to….
- Don’t use would for past states (e.g., relationships, feelings, age).
- Practice by talking about your own life: list things you used to do or places you used to live. That personal practice helps internalize the pattern.
- Listen for natural pronunciation: in fast speech used to may sound like “yoosta” or “yousta.” This helps when speaking and understanding native speakers.
10. Summary
- Used to + base verb describes past habitual actions or past states that no longer apply.
- Use be used to or get used to when you mean “accustomed to,” followed by a noun or gerund (-ing).
- For negatives and questions, use did + use to (not did used to).
- Would can express repeated past actions but not past states.
- Practice with personal examples and pay attention to pronunciation in natural speech.
Mastering used to is a small but important step toward expressing past habits and contrasts between past and present clearly. Once you feel comfortable with the forms and distinctions shown here, try writing a short paragraph describing five things you used to do and five things you are used to now — then compare the two lists to practice the contrastive meaning.
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