Used to

Used to do
We use 'used to' for something that happened regularly in the past but no longer
happens.

I used to smoke a packet a day but I stopped two years ago.

Ben used to travel a lot in his job but now, since his promotion, he doesn't.

I used to drive to work but now I take the bus.

We also use it for something that was true but no longer is.

There used to be a cinema in the town but now there isn't.

She used to have really long hair but she's had it all cut off.

I didn't use to like him but now I do.

'Used to do' is different from 'to be used to doing' and 'to get used to doing'
to be used to doing
We use 'to be used to doing' to say that something is normal, not unusual.

I'm used to living on my own. I've done it for quite a long time.

Hans has lived in England for over a year so he is used to driving on the left now.

They've always lived in hot countries so they aren't used to the cold weather here.

to get used to doing

We use 'to get used to doing' to talk about the process of something becoming normal
for us.

I didn't understand the accent when I first moved here but I quickly got used to it.

She has started working nights and is still getting used to sleeping during the day.

I have always lived in the country but now I'm beginning to get used to living in
the city.

On Sundays, after his football match, Bob

often come home

exhausted.
2. You

like him... Yes, but now I hate him !

3. She

live in London before the war, then she moved to New York.

4. I remember we

go fishing every morning when I was a child. It

was great. Now, I am an accountant and I don't have any free time.
5. The children
often help me to make a cake. They still do
sometimes.
6. He

be a very good tennis player, until he broke his ankle.

7. My grandfather

swim in this river. Unfortunately, now it's

forbidden.

1. I am
2. She has

milk every day.

living in a small village.

3. When I was a child, I didn't

4. You must get
5. I have got
6. I am
7. Her son is
8. I

chocolate but now I eat a lot.

English for long hours.
English every day.

for myself.
television for five hours a day.
a big chocolate cake a day but I stopped three years ago.

9. I am

a cup of coffee in the morning.

10. Peter

a bike, now he has a car.

1. I used to share my computer with my

brother
2. I used to write a lot of letters
3. I used to play on the playstation
4. I didn't use to travel a lot
5. I used to phone my friends all the
time
6. I used to have a laptop
7. I used to work at the office
8. I used to be a postman

Used to Exercise 1
Make an affirmative sentence, negative sentence or
question using used to + infinitive':

Check

1) I / live in a flat when I was a

child.
.

Show Answ er

Check

2) We / go to the beach every

summer?
.

Show Answ er

Check

3) She / love eating chocolate, but now she

hates it
.

Show Answ er

4) He / not / smoke

Check

Show Answ er

Check

5) I / play tennis when I was at

school
.

Show Answ er

Check

6) She / be able to speak French, but she has

forgotten it all
.

Show Answ er

7) He / play golf every weekend?

Check

Show Answ er

8) They both / have short hair

Check

Show Answ er

9) Julie / study Portuguese

Check

Show Answ er

10) I / not / hate school

used to - to be / to get used to

Complete the following sentences with the correct form of used and the verb in
brackets.

Example :

walks.

=>

Tom______________ (take) the bus to go to work, now he

Tom used to take the bus to go to work...
Sending emails to my grandmother is difficult. She isn't ___________a

computer.

1.

=> She isn't

used to using a computer.

Caroline _______________ (have) a walkman, now she has an ipod.

2.
We haven't seen Bob very often since he got a promotion. He's very
busy. He _____________________(not be) so busy.
3.
I've just got my first job. It's exciting but I'll have
_______________________(work) regular hours.
4.
It is difficult for Tom to drive in England. He ____________________
(drive) on the left-hand side of the road.
5.

When Peter was young, he ________________ (ride) a bicycle to

school.
6.
People from India usually find our food tasteless. They
________________________ (eat) spicy food.
7.
Computers ________________ (be) very expensive. Now the prices are
more reasonable.
8.
English has become international.
Businessmen ________________________ (speak) English at international meetings.
9.
During my childhood, I ________________ (spend) a lot of time with my
grandparents.
10.
Maria _________________ (think) that she would
never ________________________ (live) in New York.

back to exercise list

Correction
1.

Caroline used to have a walkman, now she had an ipod.

2.
We haven't seen Bob very often since he got a promotion. He's very
busy. He didn't use to be so busy.
3.
I've just got my first job. It's exciting but I'll have to get used to
working regular hours.
4.
It is difficult for Tom to drive in England. He isn't used to driving on
the left-hand side of the road.
5.
When Peter was young, he used to ride a bicycle to school.
6.
People from India usually find our food tasteless. They are used to
eating spicy food.
7.
Computers used to be very expensive. Now the prices are more
reasonable.
8.
English has become international.
Businessmen are used to speaking / have got used to
speaking English at international meetings.
9.
During my childhood, I used to spend a lot of time with my
grandparents.
10.
Maria used to think that she would never get used to living in New
York