Used to (do)

A. Study this example situation:

     Dennis stopped smoking two years ago. He doesn't smoke any more.

     But he used to smoke.

     He used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day.

    'He used to smoke' = he smoked regularly for some time in the past, but he doesn't smoke now. He was a smoker, but now he isn't

B. 'Something used to happen' = something happened regularly in the past but no longer happens:

      * I used to play tennis a lot but I don't play very often now.

      * Diane used to travel a lot. These days she doesn't go away so often.

      * 'Do you go to the cinema very often?' 'Not now, but I used to.' (= I used to go ...)

         We also use used to... for something that was true but is not true any more:

      * This building is now a furniture shop. It used to be a cinema.

      * I used to think he was unfriendly but now I realise he's a very nice person.

   

      * I've started drinking coffee recently. I never used to like it before.

      * Janet used to have very long hair when she was a child.

    

C. 'I used to do something' is past. There is no present form. You cannot say 'I use to do'. To talk about the present, use the present simple (I do).

     Compare:

     past: he used to smoke  we used to live  there used to be

     present: he smokes  we live  there is

     * We used to live in a small village but now we live in London.

     * There used to be four cinemas in the town. Now there is only one.

     

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

   * Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child?

  

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

   * I didn't use to like him. (or I used not to like him.)

E. Compare I used to do and I was doing :

    * I used to watch TV a lot. (= I watched TV regularly in the past, but I no longer do this)

    * I was watching TV when the phone rang. (= I was in the middle of watching TV)

  

F. Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing (see Unit 60). 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 new because I've been living alone for some time)

EXERCISES

  

18.1 Complete these sentences with use(d) to ... + a suitable verb.

       1. Dennis gave up smoking two years ago. He used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day.

   

       2. Liz --- a motorbike, but last year she sold it and bought a car.

   

       3. We came to live in Manchester a few years ago. We --- in Nottingham.

       4. I rarely cat ice cream now but I --- it when I was a child.

       5. Jim --- my best friend but we aren't friends any longer.

       6. It only takes me about 40 minutes to get to work since the new road was opened. It --- more than an hour.

       7. There --- a hotel opposite the station but it closed a long time ago

       8. When you lived in London, --- to the theatre very often?

  

18.2 Brian changed his lifestyle. He stopped doing some things and started doing other things:

       He stopped studying hard/going to bed early/running three miles e3very morning

   

       He started smoking/going out in the evening/spending a lot of money

      Write sentences about Brian with used to and didn't use to.

        1. He used to smoke.

        2. He didn't use to smoke.

        3. ---

        4. ---

        5. ---

   

        6. ---

   

18.3 Compare what Carol said five years ago and what she says today:

       FIVE YEARS A GO

      I travel a lot,

      I play the piano.

      I'm very lazy.

      I don't like cheese.

      I've got a dog.

     I'm a hotel receptionist.

     I've got lots of friends.

  

     I never read newspapers.

     I don't drink tea.

    I go to a lot of parties.

    TODAY

    I eat lots of cheese now.

    I work very hard these days.

 

    I don't know in people these days.

    I work in a bookshop now.

    I don't go away much these days.

    My dog died two years ago.

    I read a newspaper every day now.

    I haven't been to a party for ages.

    I haven't played piano for years.

    Tea's great! I like it now.

    Now write sentences about bow Carol has changed. Use used to/didn't use to/never used to in the first part of your sentence.

    1. She used to travel a lot but she doesn't go away much these days.

    2. She used --- but ---

    3. --- but ---

    4. --- but ---

    5. --- but ---

    6. --- but ---

    7. --- but ---

    8. --- but ---

    9. --- but ---

  10. --- but ---