018 : used to (do)

   A   

Study this example situation:

 

Nicola doesn't travel much these days.
She prefers to stay at home.

 

But she used to travel a lot.  // [juːstə] 
She used to go away two or three times a year.

 

She used to travel a lot = she travelled a lot often in the past, but she doesn't do this any more.

 

 

   B   

Something used to happen = it happened often in the past, but no longer happens:

• I used to play tennis a lot, but I don't play very much now.
• David used to spend a lot of money on clothes. These days he can't afford it.
• 'Do you go to the cinema much?'  'Not now, but I used to.' (= I used to go)

We also use used to ... for things that were true, but are not true any more:

• This building is now a furniture shop. It used to be a cinema.
• I used to think Mark was unfriendly, but now I realise he's a very nice person.
• I've started drinking tea recently. I never used to like it before.
• Lisa used to have very long hair when she was a child.

 

 

   C   

'I used to do something' is past. There is no present. You cannot say  'I use to do'.
To talk about the present, use the present simple (I do).

 

Compare:

 

past	he used to play	we used to live	there used to be
present	he plays	we live	there is

• We used to live in a small village, but now we live in London.
• There used to be four cinemas in the town. Now there is only one.

 

 

   D   

The normal question form is did (you) use to ... ?:

• Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child?

The negative form is didn't use to ... (used not to ... is also possible):  // [juːst]

• I didn't use to like him. (or I used not to like him.)

 

 

   E   

Compare I used to do and I was doing:

• I used to watch TV a lot. (= I watched TV often in the past, but I no longer do this)
• I was watching TV when Rob called. (= I was in the middle of watching TV)

 

 

   F   

Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing (see Unit 61). The structures and meanings are different:

• I used to live alone. (= I lived alone in the past, but I no longer live alone)
• I am used to living alone. (= I live alone, and I don't find it strange or difficult because I've been living alone for some time)

 

 

 

※ afford :

( usually used with 'can, could' or 'be able to', especially in negative sentences or questions )

 

 

※ confuse : con (=together) + fuse (=pour)