English Grammar and Exercises for ESL learners.

Used to + Infinitive
(example : I used to smoke)

Affirmativ Interrogati
Negative
e ve
Contracted
Long Form
Form

I used to I did not use I didn't use to Did I use to

smoke to smoke smoke smoke?
You used to You did not You didn't use Did you use
smoke use to smoke to smoke to smoke?
He/she did Did she/she
He/she used He/she didn't
not use to use to
to smoke use to smoke
smoke smoke?
We used to We did not We didn't use Did we use to
smoke use to smoke to smoke smoke?
You used to You did not You didn't use Did you use
smoke use to smoke to smoke to smoke?
They used to They did not They didn't Did they use
smoke use to smoke use to smoke to smoke?

The structure used to + infinitive is used to refer to a past habit or situation

which no longer exists at the present time.

It refers to past habits and states that do not exist today, something that
you did regularly or repeatedly in the past but no longer do today.

It exists only in the past.

Here are some examples :

Tom used to drink coffee. Now he prefers tea.

Julie used to fly from London to Paris. Now she takes the Eurostar.

I used to drive to work. Now I take the underground.

Bill used to live in Wales. Now he lives in Scotland.

Wendy used to eat meat. Now she's a vegetarian.

 Eva used to wear glasses. Now she wears contact lenses.

My mother didn't use to do much exercise. Now she goes walking with a
friend.

My grandfather didn't use to approve of social networks.

Now he uses them every day to stay in contact with his grandchildren !

o This structure cannot be used to say how often something happened,

or how long it took.

Julie used to visit Paris seven times. Julie visited Paris seven times.

Bill used to live in Wales for three years. Bill lived in Wales for three years.

N.B. Do not to confuse 'used to' with 'to be/to get used to'. See more...