used to

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   Describes a habit, state or fact that was true in the past but is no longer true.

   Grammar: Followed by the base verb: I used to smoke. Questions and negatives use use to: Did you use to live here?

   Patterns

   • used to do something

   I used to walk to school every day.

   She used to be shy, but now she loves public speaking.

   We used to live near the sea.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Familiar with something and no longer finding it strange or hard, as in be used to.

   Grammar: Follows be or get and takes a noun or -ing form: I am used to the noise; get used to waking early.

   Patterns

   • be used to something
   • get used to doing something

   I'm not used to the cold weather yet.

   She quickly got used to working night shifts.

   He is used to being the youngest in the group.

Common combinations

used to be

This used to be a quiet street.

didn't use to

I didn't use to like coffee.

get used to

It takes time to get used to a new city.

be used to

He is used to long hours.

used to say

My grandmother used to say that patience pays.

never used to

I never used to enjoy running.

Synonyms and how they differ

would

Would can describe past habits, but unlike used to it cannot describe past states: I used to be tall, not I would be tall.

formerly

Formerly is a formal adverb for in the past, while used to is the natural spoken pattern.

accustomed to

Accustomed to is a more formal way of saying be used to.

once

Once means at one time in the past and does not stress that the habit has ended.

Opposites

Word family

use verb

to employ for a purpose

used adjective

not new, or familiar with

usage noun

the way something is used

accustomed adjective

familiar through habit

Commonly confused: used to or be used to?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “used to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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