In 6 Minute Grammar, Neil, Catherine and Rob share their pasts with you and give lots of examples of used to.
Here’s a question about the programme: Which one of the presenters played a lot of video games in the past, but now likes to read?
Things used to be so different! Look at the telephone this man is using!
Neil
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Neil.
Catherine
And me, Catherine. Hello.
Neil
In today’s programme we’re talking about things we used to do…
Catherine
…in other words, things we did regularly in the past.
Neil
Yes, we’ll look at the phrase used to in positive and negative sentences, and in questions.
Catherine
We’ll bring you some spelling and pronunciation tips…
Neil
And we’ll finish of course with a quiz.
Catherine
So, let’s start with some example sentences from Rob. Hello Rob.
Rob
Hello.
Catherine
Listen carefully and answer this question: What activities did these people do regularly in the past?
Rob
Petra used to eat junk food, but now she eats salads and vegetables.
I used to play computer games, but now I read a lot.
Neil
So, Petra used to eat junk food and Rob used to play computer games. The words used to in front of an infinitive verb, like used to eat or used to play tell us that someone did an activity regularly, or several times, in the past. Now pronunciation-wise, we say used to with a short /ju/ sound, used to, not a long /ju:/ like in ‘Can I use your phone please?’ It’s not use, it’s use. Here they are together:
Rob
I used to use a desktop computer, but now I’ve got a tablet.
Catherine
Thanks Rob. And we can see from that example that we often use used to with a verb when the present situation is different to the past – so in the past Rob had a desktop, but now he’s got a tablet.
Neil
Now, used to with an infinitive means the activity happened regularly, or repeatedly, in the past. It can also describe a past state or situation, for example: I used to live in Japan, but now I live in London. But to say you did something just once in the past, use the past simple.
Catherine
So, the sentence I used to go to the gym on Saturdays means: I went to the gym on many Saturdays in the past. But the sentence I went to the gym last Saturday describes one event in the past, it’s the past simple. To talk about what happens now, use a present tense.
Rob
I used to go running every day, but now I go running once a week.
IDENT
You’re listening to BBC Learning English.
Catherine
And we’re talking about used to. Let’s take a look at negatives. Rob.
Rob
My sisters didn’t use to talk to each other much but now they speak every day. Esra didn’t use to have short hair, but she had a hair cut last week.
Catherine
Thanks Rob. And the phrase didn’t use to helps us talk about past states and activities that didn’t happen in the past, but they do now. And for all persons, it’s subject plus didn’t plus use to plus an infinitive: My sisters didn’t use to talk; Esra didn’t use to have short hair. And there’s a spelling note here isn’t there Neil?
Neil
Yes there is. In positive sentences, used is spelt u-s-e-d, but in negative sentences and questions, it’s just use: u-s-e, without the d at the end. But when we’re speaking, they sound almost exactly the same. Listen to this:
Rob
I didn’t use to get up early at the weekend. I used to stay in bed all morning.
Catherine
Thanks Rob. Now, let’s take a look at questions. Neil, which school did you use to go to?
Neil
I used to go to the local school.
Catherine
OK. So, for questions like which school did you use to go to, it’s did plus subject plus use to plus infinitive. And it’s the same for yes/no questions. Neil, did you use to walk to school?
Neil
No, I didn’t. I used to get the bus.
Catherine
So, for questions: did, subject, use to and infinitive. And remember, used to is spelt u-s-e; no d.
Neil
OK, it’s time for a quiz. Question 1. How do you spell used in this sentence? I didn’t use to have a tablet.
Catherine
It’s u-s-e without d because it’s a negative.
Neil
That’s right. Number 2. What’s the missing word? I [BLANK] to use social media every day, but now I only use it once a week.
Catherine
And the answer is used with a d. I used to use social media every day.
Neil
…is the correct answer. And number three. Is this sentence right or wrong? I used to go to the gym last Friday.
Catherine
And that’s wrong, because it’s a past event that happened only once. You can say I went to the gym last Friday, or you can say I used to go to the gym every Friday.
Neil
And that’s the end of the quiz – and the end of the show. But there’s more about used to at www.bbc-story.com . Join us again for more 6 Minute Grammar.
Both
Bye.
Did you get it? It was Rob! He said he used to play video games but now he reads a lot.
Grammar Reference
‘Used to’
Meaning and use
We use the phrase used to when we want to talk about something we did regularly in the past, but we don’t do now. We also use it to talk about a past fact which is no longer true.
I used to work at a restaurant, but now I work at a library.
Shari didn’t use to take the bus to school, but now she does.
NOT: I used to eat some cake last Saturday night. (‘Saturday night’ was just one time, so it was not something done regularly.)
Used to can help us to compare activities in the past and now.
I used to work at a restaurant in the past, and now I work at a library.
When we say used to, we do not do something now.
I used to work at a restaurant. I quit that job, and then got a new job at a library.
Form
The different forms of this phrase are used to or did/did not/didn’t + use to.
Used to is used in positive sentences. Use to is used in negative and question forms.
Positive
Alan used to wear his hat every day until he left it on the bus.
My aunt used to have a dog called Charlie.
Negative
Marsha didn’t use to enjoy skiing, but now she loves it.
I was surprised that you didn’t use to live in Shanghai.
Question
Which road did you use to take to the village before they built the new one?
Did Martin use to have a flat in this building?
Negative question
Didn’t Paula use to study French?
Didn’t William use to work at night?
Take note: adverbs
Used to already means that something happened regularly in the past. You don’t need to add adverbs most of the time. However, if you want to stress a time period, you can add an adverb.
John didn’t use to go shopping often, but now he does.
We used tovisit Mexico yearly, but lately, we’ve been going to Chile.
Spoken English
In conversation, used to is sometimes pronounced as /juːstə/. And you don’t say the ‘d’ and ‘t’ as separate sounds.
In fact, it is nearly impossible to hear the difference between used to and use to. Even if you can’t hear it, you can still pronounce this phrase correctly by saying /juːzd tə/ for both use to and used to. However, when you are writing, it is important to write the correct form. Remember, if there is a did or didn’t in the phrase, write use to. Otherwise, write used to.