Used To Exercises
Do more with this exercise
Used to
Use used to + verb to talk about things that were true in the past but are not true now: I used to live in Rome. She used to have long hair.
- Form:
- Use used to + the base verb. It is the same for every person: I used to play. She used to play. They used to play.
- Use:
- We use used to for habits and states in the past that are different now: He used to be shy, but now he talks to everybody.
- Negative:
- Use didn't use to, without the d: We didn't use to have a computer.
- Questions:
- Use Did + subject + use to: Did you use to live in a big city? The short answer is Yes, I did or No, I didn't.
- Not for one action:
- Do not use used to for one action in the past. Use the past simple: Yesterday I visited my grandmother. Not Yesterday I used to visit my grandmother.
- Not for the present:
- Used to is only for the past. For the present, use the present simple with always, usually or often: I usually walk to work.
Examples
I used to play football every Saturday.
A habit in the past. I don't play football every Saturday now.
She used to have long hair.
A state in the past. Her hair is different now.
We didn't use to have a computer.
In the negative, we say didn't use to, without the d.
Did you use to live in a big city?
In a question, we say Did + you + use to, without the d.
Did you use to play outside? Yes, I did.
In the short answer, we use did only.
He used to be shy, but now he talks to everyone.
Used to can go with the verb be. The sentence says how he was before and how he is now.
Practice exercises
Choose the Correct Form
Choose the correct form.
1.When I was a child, I ___ play football every day.
2.Did you ___ live in London?
3.Yesterday, I ___ my grandmother.
4.He ___ be shy, but now he talks to everybody.
5.Tom ___ in a small village. Now he lives in a big city.
6.I ___ eat vegetables, but now I love them.
Fill in the Blank
Type the correct word or words.
Put the Words in Order
Click the words in the correct order to build the sentence.
13. Build the sentence:
14. Build the sentence:
15. Build the sentence:
16. Build the sentence:
True or False
Decide if each statement is true or false.
17.We use 'used to' for one action that happened yesterday.
18.'Did you used to live here?' is correct English.
19.'I used to play tennis' means I don't play tennis now.
20.After 'used to' we use the base verb: 'She used to walk to work.'
21.You can use 'used to' with the verb be: 'I used to be shy.'
Used To: Talk About Past Habits and States
We use used to to talk about the past, when something was true before but is not true now. I used to live in Rome. She used to have long hair. We used to play football every Saturday. Each sentence says that things are different now.
The form is easy: used to + the base verb. It is the same for every person, so we say I used to, she used to and they used to. We can use it with action verbs (play, live, work) and with states (be, have, like).
In negative sentences and questions, we say use to, without the d. The negative is didn't use to: We didn't use to have a computer. The question is Did you use to...?: Did you use to live in a big city? The short answer is Yes, I did or No, I didn't.
Do not use used to for one action in the past. We say Yesterday I visited my grandmother, because yesterday is one time. We also do not use used to for the present. For present habits, we use the present simple with always, usually or often. The exercises above practise used to in positive sentences, negatives, questions and short answers.
Frequently asked questions
What does used to mean?
Used to talks about habits and states in the past that are not true now: I used to live in Rome means I lived in Rome before, and I don't live there now.
What is the difference between used to and the past simple?
Used to is for habits and states that are different now. The past simple is for one finished action, or when you say exactly when it happened: I visited Paris last year. Do not say 'I used to visit Paris last year'.
Why is there no d in didn't use to?
Did already shows the past, so the next verb goes back to the base form. It is the same with other verbs: I didn't play, not 'I didn't played'. So we say didn't use to and Did you use to?
Is used to the same as be used to?
No. I used to live here is about the past. I'm used to the noise is about the present, and it means the noise is normal for me. This is a different structure, and you learn it later.
How do I talk about present habits?
Used to is only for the past. For the present, use the present simple with always, usually or often: I usually walk to work.
Answer key
1. When I was a child, I ___ play football every day.
Answer: used to
In a positive sentence, we say used to + base verb.
2. Did you ___ live in London?
Answer: use to
After did, we say use to, without the d.
3. Yesterday, I ___ my grandmother.
Answer: visited
Yesterday is one time in the past, so we use the past simple: visited. We do not use used to for one action.
4. He ___ be shy, but now he talks to everybody.
Answer: used to
He was shy before, and now he is not. We say used to + be.
5. Tom ___ in a small village. Now he lives in a big city.
Answer: used to live
In a positive sentence, we say used to + base verb: used to live.
6. I ___ eat vegetables, but now I love them.
Answer: never used to
The sentence is positive in form, so we say used to. With never, it is never used to + base verb.
7. My dad ___ play the guitar when he was young.
Answer: used to
This is a positive sentence about the past, so we use used to + base verb.
8. We ___ have a TV in our house. It was too expensive.
Answer: didn't use to
The negative is didn't use to, without the d.
9. ___ your grandmother use to live here?
Answer: Did
A question about the past starts with Did. Then we say use to, without the d.
10. Tom used to ___ football every Saturday.
Answer: play
After used to, we use the base verb: play.
11. Did you use to play outside? Yes, I ___.
Answer: did
The short answer is Yes, I did. We do not repeat used to.
12. My brother didn't ___ to like fish, but now he loves it.
Answer: use
After didn't, we say use, without the d.
13. Rome / used / in / I / live / to / .
Answer: I used to live in Rome.
The order is I + used to + base verb.
14. football / you / Did / play / use / ? / to
Answer: Did you use to play football?
In a question, Did comes first. Then we say use to, without the d.
15. coffee / like / didn't / She / use / to / .
Answer: She didn't use to like coffee.
The negative is didn't use to, without the d.
16. here / work / father / used / My / to / .
Answer: My father used to work here.
My father is one person, but used to does not change: used to work.
17. We use 'used to' for one action that happened yesterday.
Answer: False
Used to is for past habits and states. For one action, we use the past simple: I visited my grandmother yesterday.
18. 'Did you used to live here?' is correct English.
Answer: False
After did, we say use to, without the d: Did you use to live here?
19. 'I used to play tennis' means I don't play tennis now.
Answer: True
Used to talks about the past, and it shows that the situation is different now.
20. After 'used to' we use the base verb: 'She used to walk to work.'
Answer: True
The order is used to + base verb: used to walk.
21. You can use 'used to' with the verb be: 'I used to be shy.'
Answer: True
Used to can talk about a state in the past. I was shy before, and now I am not.