used to do
I used to be handsome.
We use used to do to talk about the past. It is not a tense but it is like a tense. It is a special structure. We use the structure used to do for the past only.
Do not confuse used to do with with the expression be used to. They have different meanings.
STRUCTURE OF USED TO DO
The structure of used to do is:
| subject | + | main verb use | + | to-infinitive |
Look at the structure again with positive, negative and question sentences:
| subject | auxiliary did | not | main verb use | infinitive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| + | I | used | to like him. | ||
| - | I | did | n't | use | to work. |
| ? | Did | you | use | to drink? |
Used or use?
- when there is no did in the sentence, we say used to (with d)
- when there is did in the sentence, we say use to (without d)
USE OF USED TO DO
We use the used to do structure to talk about:
- an activity that we did regularly in the past (like a habit)
- a situation that was true in the past
| past | present | future | ||
| I used to smoke. | ||||
Look at these examples.
| past | present |
|---|---|
| She used to work in a shop. | Now she works in a bank. |
| He used to watch a lot of TV. | Now he doesn't watch much TV. |
| They used to be married. | Now they are divorced. |
| There used to be a cinema here. | Now there is a supermarket here. |
| I didn't use to go swimming. | Now I go swimming. |
| Did you use to smoke? |
EXERCISES
Complete the sentences with the affirmative, negative or interrogative form of used to and the words in brackets. Use contractions where possible.
used to didn't use to didn't use to Did they use to used to did you use to didn't use to used to
