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Explore advanced uses of "used to" in different contexts. For example: "They used to be best friends." Comprehensive explanations, exercises, and a quiz provided.
Used to
'Used to' has two meanings:
We use 'used to' to say that an action happened continuously, habitually or frequently during a period in the past, but no longer occurs.
Grammatical Functions
In negatives and questions, the correct form is 'used to.' To form questions, use 'did' and to form a negative sentence, use 'didn't use to.'
Didn't you use to have long hair?
Didn't she use to go to our school?
If we use 'used to' to mean; we did something regularly and frequently in the past; the rule is to use an infinitive without 'to' after used to.
I used to go to school every day when I was 12.
She used to be my friend.
2. When 'used to' is accompanied by the verb 'be,' it talks about an action that you're accustomed to doing it and it's no longer strange.
He's used to the noise from the traffic now.
He is accustomed to the noise from the traffic now.
I'm used to getting up early.
If we use 'used to' to mean we are accustomed to doing something; in this case, we have to use gerunds (verbs+ -ing) after 'used to'. Remember the structure is subject + be + used to + gerund.
She is used to lying. (NOT She is used to lie.)
He's used to reading at bedtime.
Get Used to
In spoken and informal English, you can also say the expression 'get used to'. It expresses an action or situation that is gradually becoming less strange, or more familiar.
It takes time to get used to my new working environment.
Here, we mean; it takes time to gradually become familiar with my new working environment.
Don't worry, you'll get used to it soon.
In this case, it means, it'll be less strange soon.
Review
'used to' is use to express:
an activity that you did regularly in the past
an activity that you are accustomed to
an activity that gets less strange over time
Each meaning has its own grammatical rule which was discussed in the article.
used to | be + used to | get + used to |
|---|---|---|
They used to have long hair. | He is used to driving at night. | Humans get used to every change over time. |
Quiz:
Which sentence describes a past state?
We used to go swimming every weekend.
This used to be a quiet neighborhood.
I'm used to waking up early.
I used to drink coffee every morning.
Sort the words to form a question.
Match each incomplete sentence to the correct ending.
Which sentence has a different meaning from the others?
I used to hate the cold weather.
I did not use to hate cold weaher.
Did you use to hate cold weather?
I got used to the cold weather fast.
Fill each blank with the correct form of "used to."
I
play soccer every weekend when I was younger.
He didn't
drink coffee, but now he can't start his day without it.
Did you
watch cartoons as a child?
We never
argue so much when we were kids.
It was hard at first, but she
working night shifts now.
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