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Luyện ngữ pháp - English Grammar in Use - Intermediate ((Unit 18: Used to))

Grammar Explanations and Rules

Study this example situation:

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

But she used to travel a lot.
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.

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.

'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

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

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

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)

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)