Used to (I used to do)

 

Study this example situation.

 

This is Dennis. He gave up smoking two years ago. He no longer smokes.

But he used to smoke. He used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day.

 

He used to smoke means that he smoked regularly for some time in the past, but he doesn't smoke now.

 

We use use to with base form (used to do / used to smoke, etc.) to say that something happened regularly in the past but no longer happens.

• I used to play tennis a lot, but now I'm too lazy.
• "Do you go to the movies very often?" "Not now, but I used to."
• Sue used to travel a lot. These days she doesn't go away very often.

We also use used to for past situations (that no longer exist).

• We used to live in a small village, but now we live in Milan.
• This building is now a furniture store. It used to be a movie theater.
• Do you see that hill over there? There used to be a castle on that hill.
• I've started drinking tea lately. I never used to like it before.
• Ann used to have long hair, but she cut it some time ago.

Used to + base form is always past. These is no present. You cannot say "I use to do." For the present, use the simple present (I do). Compare the present ans past.

Past   he used to smoke    we used to live   there used to be

Present    he smokes   we live   there is

 

The normal question form is did....use to...?

• Did you use to eat a lot of candy when you were a child?

The negative form is didn't use to...(or never used to)

• Jim didn't use to go out very often until her met Jill. (or never used to go out)

Be careful not to confuse I used to do and I am used to doing. The structures ans meanings are different.

• I used to live alone. (= I lived alone but I no longer live alone.)
• I am used to living alone. (= I live alone and don't find it strange or new because I've been living alone for some time.)