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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 option is grammatically incorrect?
They never used to argue.
Did he use to live here?
We use to take the bus to school.
I was used to working night shifts.
Sort the words to form a correct negative sentence.
Match the sentence in Column A to the correct description in Column B.
Identify the sentence about formation of a habit.
I used to drink coffee every morning.
I never used to drinking coffee every morning.
I got used to drinking coffee every morning.
I am used to drink coffee every morning.
Complete each sentence using the correct form of "used to."
She didn't
like spicy food, but now she enjoys it.
I
live in that neighborhood when I was a child.
Did you
go swimming in the river as a kid?
We never
worry about exams back then.
I
getting up early for work; it doesn't bother me anymore.
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