UNIT 18. 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 (see Unit 6):

* 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)