used to | TKG English Learner's Dictionary

used tomodal verb

American /ˈjus tə/ British /ˈjuːs tə/ The s is pronounced like the s in miss, not like the z in the verb use, and to is weak, so the whole form sounds like JOOST-uh. Compare the verb use, which sounds like JOOZ.

very commondefining vocabulary

Used to is used to talk about things that were true or that happened again and again in the past but do not now.

past habitshowing that an action happened again and again in the past but does not happen now
It marks a past habit that has ended. The form is always past: there is no present used to for this meaning. In questions and negatives the d is dropped after did: did you use to, I didn't use to.
verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]
- We used to play in the park every day.
- Sara used to smoke, but she gave it up.
- Did you use to walk to school? (question, no d after did)
Synonyms would
Compare would (would can replace used to for repeated past actions, but not for past states); used (do not confuse with be used to doing something, which means to be accustomed to it)
past stateshowing that something was true or existed in the past but is not true now
Used for past states rather than repeated actions: with verbs like be, have, live, and know. Would cannot replace used to in this meaning.
verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]
- There used to be a shop on this corner.
- I used to have long hair.
- Omar used to be very shy as a child.

Usage

In questions and negatives the final d is dropped after did: Did you use to live here? I didn't use to like it. The forms used not to and never used to also exist and sound a little more formal. Do not confuse used to plus a base verb (a past habit) with be used to plus an -ing form or a noun (being accustomed to something).

Common mistakes

I am used to live in a small town. I used to live in a small town.
For a past habit, used to takes no be; be used to plus -ing means to be accustomed to something.

Did you used to play the piano? Did you use to play the piano?
After did, the form is use to, without the final d.

When I was young, I use to read a lot. When I was young, I used to read a lot.
The past-habit form is used to, with a d, except after did.

See also would (would can also describe repeated actions in the past); used (be used to something means to be accustomed to it)

For translators

Meaning across languages Many languages show a past habit with a simple past tense or a special past form. English uses the fixed phrase used to, which exists only in the past and has no present form.

Grammar trap Keep two structures apart. Used to plus a base verb is a past habit: I used to swim. Be used to plus an -ing form or a noun means to be accustomed to something: I am used to swimming. The first is about the past; the second is about being familiar with something.