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Unit 18 · Present perfect and past

used to (do)

Study

A

Study this example situation:

Nicola doesn't travel much these days. She prefers to stay at home.

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But she used to travel a lot.

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She used to go away two or three times a year.

She used to travel a lot = she travelled often in the past, but she doesn't do this any more.

B

I used to do something = I did it often in the past, but not any more:

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I used to play tennis a lot, but I don't play very much now.

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David used to spend a lot of money on clothes. These days he can't afford it.

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'Do you go to the cinema much?' 'Not now, but I used to.' (= I used to go)

We also use used to … for things that were true, but are not true any more:

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This building is now a furniture shop. It used to be a cinema.

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I used to think Mark was unfriendly, but now I realise he's a very nice person.

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I've started drinking coffee recently. I never used to like it before.

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Lisa used to have very long hair when she was a child.

C

'I used to do something' is past. There is no present. You cannot say 'I use to do'.

To talk about the present, we use the present simple (I do).

Compare:

past he used to play we used to live there used to be
present he plays we live there is
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We used to live in a small village, but now we live in a city.

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There used to be four cinemas in the town. Now there is only one.

D

The normal question form is did (you) use to … ? :

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Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child? (= did you do this often?)

The negative form is didn't use to … (used not to … is also possible):

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I didn't use to like him. (or I used not to like him.)

E

Compare I used to do and I was doing:

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I used to watch TV a lot. (= I watched TV often in the past, but I don't do this any more)

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I was watching TV when Rob called. (= I was in the middle of watching TV)

F

Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing (see Unit 61). The structures and meanings are different:

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I used to live alone. (= I lived alone in the past, but I no longer live alone.)

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I am used to living alone. (= I live alone, and it's not a problem for me because I've lived alone for some time.)

Past continuous (I was doing) → Unit 6 would (= used to) → Unit 36 be/get used to (doing something) → Unit 61

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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18.1

Complete the sentences with used to + a suitable verb.

  1. 1
    Nicola a lot, but she doesn't go away much these days.example
  2. 2
    Sophie a motorbike, but last year she sold it and bought a car.
  3. 3
    Our friends moved to Spain a few years ago. They in Paris.
  4. 4
    Jackie my best friend, but we aren't friends any more.
  5. 5
    I rarely eat ice cream now, but I it when I was a child.
  6. 6
    It only takes me about 40 minutes to get to work now that the new road is open. It more than an hour.
  7. 7
    There a hotel near the airport, but it closed a long time ago.
  8. 8
    I in a factory. It wasn't my favourite job.
18.2

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box.

diddidn'ttouseusedused toused to beused to havebe able
  1. 1
    Lisa very long hair when she was a child.example
  2. 2
    We to watch TV a lot, but we don't have a TV any more.
  3. 3
    Lisa works in a shop now. She a receptionist in a hotel.
  4. 4
    What games you use to play when you were a child?
  5. 5
    I like big cities, but now I prefer the countryside.
  6. 6
    In your last job, how many hours a day did you to work?
  7. 7
    I don't travel very much these days, but I used .
  8. 8
    I used to to run ten kilometres, but I can't run that far now.
  9. 9
    These days I eat more than before. I use to eat as much.
18.3

Compare what Karen said ten years ago and what she says today: Now write about how Karen has changed. Use used to / didn't use to / never used to in the first part of your sentence.

  1. 1
    TEN YEARS AGO: I travel a lot. TODAY: I don't go away much these days.
    She but .example
  2. 2
    TEN YEARS AGO: I'm very lazy. TODAY: I work very hard these days.
    but .
  3. 3
    TEN YEARS AGO: I don't like cheese. TODAY: I eat lots of cheese now.
    but .
  4. 4
    TEN YEARS AGO: I play the piano. TODAY: I haven't played the piano for a long time.
    but .
  5. 5
    TEN YEARS AGO: I never drink tea. TODAY: Tea's great! I like it now.
    but .
  6. 6
    TEN YEARS AGO: I have a dog. TODAY: My dog died two years ago.
    but .
18.4

Write sentences about yourself. Begin I used to … (I used to be/work/like/play etc.)

  1. 1
    I used to live in a small village, but now I live in a city. example
  2. 2
    I used to play tennis a lot, but I don't play any more. example
  3. 3
    I used , but .
  4. 4
    I .
  5. 5
    I .
  6. 6
    Now begin with I didn't use to … .
    I didn't use to read a lot, but I do now. example
  7. 7
    I didn't .
  8. 8
    I didn't .