Used to | ESL Master

What “Used to” Means

We use used to + base verb to talk about a habit or state in the past that is not true now.

I used to smoke, but I stopped last year.

She used to live in Paris, but now she lives in Rome.

We used to play together when we were kids.

The key idea: it was true before, but it is not true anymore.

Past (was true)	Now (not true)
`I used to ride a bike to school.`	`Now I take the bus.`
`She used to have long hair.`	`Now her hair is short.`
`They used to be neighbors.`	`Now they live far apart.`

Form

Type	Pattern	Example
Positive	subject + `used to` + base verb	`I used to play tennis.`
Negative	subject + `didn't use to` + base verb	`I didn't use to like coffee.`
Question	`Did` + subject + `use to` + base verb	`Did you use to live here?`

Spelling tip: in negatives and questions, drop the -d from used. Write use to, not used to.

I didn't use to like fish. ✓

I didn't used to like fish. ✗

Did you use to play soccer? ✓

Did you used to play soccer? ✗

Past Habits

Use used to for things you did regularly in the past but don’t do now.

I used to wake up at 5 a.m. for work.

We used to go camping every summer.

He used to drink three coffees a day.

You can also use the simple past with adverbs like often, every day, sometimes, but used to makes the contrast with now very clear.

Simple Past	Used To
`I played the piano as a child.`	`I used to play the piano (but I don't anymore).`
`We lived in Tokyo for two years.`	`We used to live in Tokyo (now we live elsewhere).`

Past States

Used to also works with verbs that describe states, not actions: be, have, like, live, know.

I used to be afraid of dogs.

She used to have a red car.

They used to like horror movies.

We used to know each other in school.

Negative

To say something was not a habit or state in the past, use didn't use to + base verb.

I didn't use to drink coffee, but now I love it.

He didn't use to be so tall.

We didn't use to have a car when I was little.

Questions

To ask about past habits or states, use Did + subject + use to + base verb.

Did you use to live in this city?

Did she use to play sports in school?

Where did you use to go on vacation?

Short answers: Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.

”Used to” vs. “Be Used to”

These two look similar but mean very different things. Don’t mix them up.

Form	Meaning	Example
`used to + base verb`	a past habit (not true now)	`I used to live in Spain.`
`be used to + noun/-ing`	familiar with something now	`I am used to spicy food.`

I used to drive on the left. (I drove on the left in the past.)

I am used to driving on the left. (It feels normal to me now.)

For A2, focus on used to + base verb, the past habit form. The other one is fine to learn later.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Better	Why
`I used to smoking.`	`I used to smoke.`	Use the base verb after `used to`, not `-ing`.
`I didn't used to like coffee.`	`I didn't use to like coffee.`	Drop the `-d` after `did/didn't`.
`Did you used to play piano?`	`Did you use to play piano?`	Drop the `-d` in questions too.
`I am used to live here.`	`I used to live here.` (past habit)	Don’t add `am/is/are` for past habits.
`She use to have long hair.`	`She used to have long hair.`	Positive form keeps the `-d`: `used to`.
`I used to going to the gym.`	`I used to go to the gym.`	Base verb only.

Practice: Exercises

1 / 14

I ___ smoke, but I stopped last year.

Summary

Use used to + base verb to talk about a habit or state in the past that is not true now.

I used to live in a small town. Now I live in a big city.

In negatives and questions, drop the -d:

I didn't use to like olives.
Did you use to play piano?

Always use the base verb (no -ing, no -ed, no -s) after used to.