USED TO - PAST HABITS (A2 Grammar)

Use USED TO for past habits and states that are NO LONGER TRUE. Things that changed.

Quick tip: Positive: USED TO. Negative: didn't USE TO. Question: Did...USE TO? (no -d in negative/questions)

USED TO + base verb (past habits)

Use for habits and repeated actions that DON'T happen now.

• I used to play tennis.
• She used to smoke.
• We used to live near the harbor.
• He used to work here.

Negative: DIDN'T USE TO

In negative, use didn't use to (no -d on 'use').

• I didn't use to like coffee.
• She didn't use to study hard.
• We didn't use to have a car.
• He didn't use to exercise.

Questions: DID + subject + USE TO

In questions, use did + subject + use to (no -d).

• Did you use to play tennis?
• Did she use to live here?
• Where did you use to work?
• Did they use to visit often?

Common mistakes

• Not "I use to play tennis" — say "I used to play tennis". Positive = USED TO (with -d).
• Not "I didn't used to like it" — say "I didn't use to like it". After did/didn't = USE TO (no -d).

Practise it

Past habit that's different now? = USED TO. Single past action? = Past Simple (not used to).