The Past Continuous Tense｜Rules of “was / were + -ing”
Izumi English Morning
How to Use “Used to”｜Expressions for Past Habits and States
Izumi
In English, the expression used to is employed when talking about past habits or states, such as “I used to…” or “There used to be…”. The key nuance is: “It was true in the past, but it is not true now.”
In this lesson, I will explain the basic rules of used to, how to form affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences, as well as common mistakes to avoid.
Contents
1. Basic Rules of Used to
The structure is: Subject + used to + base verb
It expresses the meaning “I used to do…” or “It used to be…”, with the implication that the situation is no longer the case.
- I used to play soccer every weekend.
- There used to be a movie theater here.
Thus, this expression is used to describe past habits and past states.
2. Affirmative Sentences
Used to can be applied to both past habits and past states.
- Past habits: to refer to repeated actions in the past.
- Past states: to describe conditions or situations that were true in the past but are no longer true.
3. Negative Sentences
To form the negative, use: “didn’t use to + base verb”
- I didn’t use to like coffee.
- He didn’t use to play the piano.
Negative sentences express that the habit or state did not exist in the past.
4. Interrogative Sentences
To form a question, use: “Did + subject + use to + base verb?”
- Did you use to live near here?
- Did she use to work at that company?
5. Common Mistakes and Key Points
5-1. Do Not Confuse with “Be used to”
Although the forms look similar, the meanings are completely different:
- used to + base verb → “I used to do (in the past).”
- be used to + noun / gerund → “I am accustomed to / I am familiar with …”
Examples:
- I used to drive to work.
- I’m used to driving to work.
Here, “be used to” means “to be accustomed to,” while “used to” means “was true in the past, but not anymore.”
5-2. Cannot Be Used for Present or Future
“Used to” is strictly for past habits or states. It cannot express present or future routines.
- ✖️ I use to go shopping every Saturday.
- ☑️ I usually go shopping every Saturday.
6. Summary
- used to + base verb → “I used to… / There used to be…” (past habits or states no longer true)
- Negative: didn’t use to
- Question: Did + subject + use to … ?
- Different from “be used to ~” (be accustomed to)
- Only for the past, not the present or future
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