Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 18 · B1

used to (do)

Use used to + infinitive for something that happened regularly in the past, or was true in the past, and is no longer the case. It has no present form.

Start the lesson

19Steps · about 31 minutes

In this lesson

A past habit that has stoppedA4 screens of questions
Things that happened, or were true, and no longer areB2 screens of questions
used to is past onlyC1 screen of questions
Questions and negativesD2 screens of questions
I used to do and I was doingE1 screen of questions
Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doingF1 screen of questions

Point A of 6

A past habit that has stopped

Dougie hardly ever goes dancing these days. He prefers a quiet night in with the crossword.

He used to go dancing every Friday and Saturday, however, and by all accounts he was rather good.

He used to go dancing means he went dancing often in the past, but he does not do it any more.

  • Dougie used to go dancing every weekend.
  • He used to come home at three in the morning.
  • These days he's in bed by ten.

Point A · Exercise 18.1 · part 1 of 2

Complete each sentence with used to + a suitable verb.

  1. Example

    Dougie used to go dancing every weekend, but he hardly ever goes now.

    AnswerDougie used to go dancing every weekend, but he hardly ever goes now.

  2. Ravi a van, but he sold it last spring and bought a bike.

  3. My aunt and uncle moved to Cornwall a few years ago. They in Wakefield.

  4. Shona my next-door neighbour, but she moved away when I was twelve.

  5. I hardly ever eat chocolate now, but I it all the time when I was a teenager.

Point A · Exercise 18.1 · part 2 of 2

Complete each sentence with used to + a suitable verb.

  1. It's only twenty minutes to the coast now that the bypass is open. It nearly an hour.

  2. There a swimming pool in the park, but they filled it in years ago.

  3. I in a call centre. It was not the highlight of my career.

Point A · Exercise 18.2 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box.

Use these

diddidn'ttouseusedused toused to beused to havebe able

  1. Example

    Our dad used to have a beard when we were little.

    AnswerOur dad used to have a beard when we were little.

  2. We to go to the seaside every summer, but we haven't been for years.

  3. Femi drives a bus now. He a postman.

  4. Which bands you use to listen to when you were at school?

  5. I hate gardening, but now I spend every weekend on the allotment.

Point A · Exercise 18.2 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box.

Use these

diddidn'ttouseusedused toused to beused to havebe able

  1. When you lived in the country, how far did you to drive to the shops?

  2. I don't go to the theatre very often now, but I used .

  3. I used to to touch my toes, but those days are long gone.

  4. I sleep much better than I did. I use to sleep more than five hours a night.

Point B of 6

Things that happened, or were true, and no longer are

I used to do something means I did it often in the past, but I do not do it now.

We also use used to for situations that were true in the past but are not true any more.

  • I used to swim twice a week, but I've not been near a pool for months.
  • Kath used to spend a fortune on takeaways. Now she cooks everything from scratch.
  • "Do you still play the trumpet?" "Not now, but I used to." (I used to play)
  • That bookshop on the corner used to be a bank.
  • I used to think Gemma was a bit stuck-up, but she's actually very kind.
  • I've started eating olives recently. I never used to like them.
  • Our dad used to have a beard when we were little.

Point B · Exercise 18.3 · part 1 of 2

Twelve years ago Gwen said: "I go surfing every weekend. I play the trumpet. I'm always late. I never eat vegetables. I don't like cats. I have a motorbike." Today she says: "I haven't been surfing since I moved inland. I gave my trumpet to my nephew. I'm never late now. I'm a vegetarian. I've got two cats. I sold the motorbike when I had the twins." Write how Gwen has changed. Use used to / didn't use to / never used to in the first part of the sentence.

  1. Example

    She used to go surfing every weekend, but she hasn't been since she moved inland.

    AnswerShe used to go surfing every weekend, but she hasn't been since she moved inland.

  2. , but she gave it to her nephew.

  3. , but she's never late now.

  4. , but now she's a vegetarian.

  5. , but now she's got two.

Point B · Exercise 18.3 · part 2 of 2

Twelve years ago Gwen said: "I go surfing every weekend. I play the trumpet. I'm always late. I never eat vegetables. I don't like cats. I have a motorbike." Today she says: "I haven't been surfing since I moved inland. I gave my trumpet to my nephew. I'm never late now. I'm a vegetarian. I've got two cats. I sold the motorbike when I had the twins." Write how Gwen has changed. Use used to / didn't use to / never used to in the first part of the sentence.

  1. , but she sold it when she had the twins.

Point C of 6

used to is past only

I used to do is past. There is no present form; you cannot say "I use to do". For the present, use the present simple (I do).

Past Present
she used to work she works
we used to live we live
there used to be there is / there are
  • We used to live in a terraced house in Barnsley, but now we live in a flat in Sheffield.
  • There used to be three pubs in the village. Now there's only one.

Point C · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with used to for the past and the present simple for now.

  1. We in a flat, but now we live in a house. (live)

  2. Mo used to work in a bank. Now he in a school. (work)

  3. There a cinema here. Now it's a gym. (be)

Point D of 6

Questions and negatives

The usual question is did (you) use to ...? Watch the spelling: after did, write use, not used.

The negative is didn't use to .... used not to ... also exists, but sounds rather formal.

  • Did you use to walk to school when you were little?
  • I didn't use to like jazz. (or I used not to like jazz.)

Point D · Exercise 18.4 · part 1 of 2

Write sentences about yourself. In sentences 1 to 5, begin with I used to ... (be, work, like, play and so on). In sentences 6 to 8, begin with I didn't use to ...

  1. Example

    I used to ...

    I used to share a flat with three people, but now I live on my own.

    Example answerI used to share a flat with three people, but now I live on my own.

  2. Example

    I used to ...

    I used to go running every morning, but I stopped when I hurt my knee.

    Example answerI used to go running every morning, but I stopped when I hurt my knee.

  3. Example

    I didn't use to ...

    I didn't use to drink tea, but I do now.

    Example answerI didn't use to drink tea, but I do now.

  4. I used to ...

  5. I used to ...

  6. I used to ...

  7. I didn't use to ...

Point D · Exercise 18.4 · part 2 of 2

Write sentences about yourself. In sentences 1 to 5, begin with I used to ... (be, work, like, play and so on). In sentences 6 to 8, begin with I didn't use to ...

  1. I didn't use to ...

Point E of 6

I used to do and I was doing

I used to do describes a habit or state over a period in the past. I was doing describes something in progress at a particular moment.

  • I used to read in bed every night. (I did this regularly, but I don't now.)
  • I was reading in bed when the power went off. (I was in the middle of reading.)

Point E · Extra practice

Put in used to or was/were + -ing.

  1. I to school every day when I was a child. (walk)

  2. I to school when I saw the accident. (walk)

  3. We dinner when the doorbell rang. (have)

Point F of 6

Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing

Don't confuse I used to do with I'm used to doing (Unit 61). They are built differently and mean different things. Any likeness between them is about as deep as the likeness between a cat and a catalogue.

  • I used to work nights. (I worked nights in the past, but I don't now.)
  • I'm used to working nights. (I work nights, and it isn't a problem for me, because I've done it for a long time.)

Point F · Extra practice

Put in used to or am/is/are used to.

  1. I smoke, but I gave up years ago.

  2. I've worked nights for years, so I sleeping in the day.

  3. Our dog the cat now. They get on fine.

Lesson 18 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Present tenses (I am doing / I do) for the futureBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. A past habit that has stopped–Not checkedB. Things that happened, or were true, and no longer are–Not checkedC. used to is past only–Not checkedD. Questions and negatives–Not checkedE. I used to do and I was doing–Not checkedF. Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing–Not checked