Gateway to Grammar: “Used to” things you don’t do anymore

I used to be lonely. Now I have 2 cats, around 100 bees, and more mice brought to me every day than I can deal with! So, what does “used to” mean?

“I used to play basketball” = “In the past I played basketball, but now I don’t”.

“Used to” usually describes things that you did often in the past, or things that described you as a person in the past.

If you want to ask a question using “used to” you follow the past simple rules, and only change the first verb into the past simple form (see examples below):

·         “Did you use to live here?” (“Do” is the first verb so this is in the past simple form and “use” is in the infinitive form.)

·         “Did you use to like cake?”

·         “Did they use to be friends?”

·         “Didn’t you use to be a law student?”

So, what did you use to do? I used to live in Germany, I used to be a forensic psychologist, and I used to wake up without cats putting their feet in my mouth!

To find out more about the private English lessons I teach online, visit www.wrightenglish.com. You can book a free trial lesson with me, just email lana@wrightenglish.com!

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