Used to: How and When to Use in English
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Used to
USED TO, followed by a verb in the infinitive, expresses a former habit, state, or characteristic that no longer applies today.
Philip used to be a very quiet boy. In the past, Philip was a very quiet boy. (he's not anymore)
He is not as athletic as he used to be. He was more athletic in the past than he is now.
You didn't use to be so arrogant! In the past you were not so arrogant!
As well as this idea of opposition between the past and the present, used to can also express a customary or repeated action in the past:
When he was living in Paris, Bruno used to eat a croissant every morning. When he was living in Paris, Bruno ate a croissant every morning.
She used to go to the theater on Friday evenings. In the past, she went to the theater every Friday evening, but not anymore.
Do not confuse with:
• the expression to be used to (something, doing something) (to be accustomed to doing something), in which 'used to' is always followed by a noun:
• the expression to be used to (something, doing something) (to be accustomed to doing something), in which 'used to' is always followed by a noun:
I am used to such situations. I am accustomed to situations like this.
I am used to walking long distances. I am accustomed to walking long distances.
I am used to walking long distances. I am accustomed to walking long distances.
• the ordinary verb to use (to utilize), in the past simple and past participle forms:
This is the map I used to find you. This is the map I utilized or employed to find you.
A barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure. A barometer is utilized to measure atmospheric pressure.
A barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure. A barometer is utilized to measure atmospheric pressure.
Exercise 1
Years ago, Kevin Connors go drinking every evening at a pub. These days, he going home directly after work and having a shot of tequila.
Years ago, Kevin Connors used to 1 go drinking every evening at a pub. These days, he is used to 2 going home directly after work and having a shot of tequila.
1 used to: When followed by an infinitive verb, 'used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past. We can differentiate 'used to (do something)' from 'to be used to (doing something)' by the verb which follows each expression. When followed by a verb in its infinitive form (without 'to'), 'used to' indicates a regular or habitual action in the past. When followed by a verb in the progressive (ING) form 'used to' indicates the idea of being accustomed to something. Also someone 'used to' do something, but they 'ARE used to doing something'.
1 is used to: When followed by a verb in its infinitive form (without 'to'), 'used to' indicates a regular or habitual action in the past. Because the verb which follows 'used to' here is in its infinitive form, we know that 'used to' is required. The phrase 'years ago' also gives us a clue. The 'be used to' construction is always followed directly by an '-ING' verb.
1 use to: The expression 'used to' is always expressed in the past tense form, so it requires a 'd' at the end of the word.
2 is used to: When followed directly by a verb in the progressive (ING) form, 'to be used to' indicates the idea of being accustomed to something. We can recognize that a verb in its progressive form is needed here because of the verb 'going'. Note that the 'to be used to' construction uses a form of the verb 'to be', which 'used to' doesn't.
2 was used to: Because of the phrase 'these days', we know that the verb must be put into the present tense.
2 used to: 'Used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past only when followed by an infinitive verb. It does not make sense to use it here.
Exercise 2
Bruno Delavigne is used to difficult decisions. For example, just last week, Bruno had to fire a long-time employee because he was the break room as a toilet. Bruno worry about these difficult decisions, but now he the responsibilities of being the president of a multi-national cosmetics company.
Bruno Delavigne is used to making 1 difficult decisions. For example, just last week, Bruno had to fire a long-time employee because he was using 2 the break room as a toilet. Bruno used to 3 worry about these difficult decisions, but now he is used to 4 the responsibilities of being the president of a multi-national cosmetics company.
1 making: The construction 'to be used to doing something' expresses the idea of being accustomed or habituated to something (usually an action). If 'to be used to' is followed by a verb, it is ALWAYS followed by a verb in its progressive form. We can recognize that a verb in its progressive form is needed here because we read that 'Bruno IS used to...'. The 'to be used to' construction uses a form of the verb 'to be', which 'used to' doesn't.
1 make: In these type of constructions, the '-ING' form of the verb always follows 'used to'. Remember that the 'to be used to' construction is different than the 'used to' construction, and we can differentiate them by the presence of a form of the verb 'to be'.
2 using: We must put the verb 'to use' in the 'ING' form here to create the past continuous tense. We use this tense here to indicate that the employee was regularly 'using' the break room (in the past) as a toilet, and this was the reason that he was fired.
2 used to: 'Used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past only when followed by an infinitive verb. It does not make sense to use it here.
3 used to: When followed by an infinitive verb, 'used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past. Remember that the 'be used to' construction is different than the 'used to' construction, and we can differentiate them by the presence of a form of the verb 'to be'.
3 is used to: When the 'be used to' construction is followed by a verb, it is always a verb in the 'ING' verb.
3 was used to: When the 'be used to' construction is followed by a verb, it is always a verb in the 'ING' verb.
3 use to: The expression 'used to' is always expressed in the past tense form, so it requires a 'd' at the end of the word.
4 is used to: The construction 'to be used to something' expresses the idea of being accustomed or habituated to something. In this case, the construction is followed by the noun 'the responsibilities'. Another example: 'Kylie is used to her new job now'.
4 used to: 'Used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past when followed by an infinitive verb. It does not make sense to use it here.
4 uses: The verb 'to use' doesn't make any sense here.
4 is use to: The expression 'be used to' always uses the past participle 'used', so it requires a 'd' at the end of the word 'use'.
Exercise 3
Conjugate the verbs below correctly.
Every Friday, Luna DeLune a staff meeting with the rest of the managers of the company and is always on time. The meetings used to on Wednesdays, but when Luna her yoga classes last summer, she asked that the staff meetings rescheduled.
Every Friday, Luna DeLune a staff meeting with the rest of the managers of the company and is always on time. The meetings used to on Wednesdays, but when Luna her yoga classes last summer, she asked that the staff meetings rescheduled.
Conjugate the verbs below correctly.
Every Friday, Luna DeLune [not done] attends 1 a staff meeting with the rest of the managers of the company and is always on time. The meetings used to [not done] take place 2 on Wednesdays, but when Luna [not done] began 3 her yoga classes last summer, she asked that the staff meetings [not done] be 4 rescheduled.
Every Friday, Luna DeLune [not done] attends 1 a staff meeting with the rest of the managers of the company and is always on time. The meetings used to [not done] take place 2 on Wednesdays, but when Luna [not done] began 3 her yoga classes last summer, she asked that the staff meetings [not done] be 4 rescheduled.
1 attends: 'To attend' should be put in the simple present tense form. We use this tense to express the idea of a regular or repeated action: Luna attends a staff meeting every Friday.
2 take place: When followed by a verb in its infinitive form (without 'to'), 'used to' indicates a regular or habitual action in the past. Here, the expression is used to indicate that staff meetings were held or took place on Wednesdays in the past, (now they are held on Fridays).
3 began: The simple past tense is used to describe a single completed action which took place in the past. Here the phrase 'last summer' signals the need for the simple past tense. The verb 'to begin' is irregular: begin/began/begun.
4 be: 'She asked that...' is a construction which must be followed by a verb in the subjunctive present tense, (identical to the infinitive form of the verb without 'to'). We use the subjunctive present to indicate that one action is uncertain or contingent upon another, or that an action is unreal or hypothetical. Some examples of verbs which are frequently used to form the subjunctive present tense: to insist, to ask, to suggest, to require, to be necessary.
Exercise 4
These days, Icarus Quincy a software program to calculate Delavigne's budget. He use a calculator years ago, but he doesn't anymore, because the equations he performs are too advanced for a simple calculator. By now, Icarus his new program, and prefers it to his old method of calculation.
These days, Icarus Quincy uses 1 a software program to calculate Delavigne's budget. He used to 2 use a calculator years ago, but he doesn't anymore, because the equations he performs are too advanced for a simple calculator. By now, Icarus is used to 3 his new program, and prefers it to his old method of calculation.
1 uses: 'Uses' is the third person form of the verb 'to use' in the present tense. It is the best choice in this case as the phrase 'these days' indicates an action in the present tense. NOTE: we can use either the simple present tense OR the present progressive tense in this construction: These days Icarus IS USING a new software program...'
1 use: 'Use' in the third person form of the present tense requires an 's' at the end of the word.
1 used: Because the phrase 'these days' refers to a present tense time period, we must use a verb in the present tense to agree with the time frame of the action.
1 used to: When followed by an infinitive verb, 'used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past. It does not make sense to use it here.
2 used to: When followed by an infinitive verb, 'used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past. We can differentiate 'used to (do something)' from 'to be used to (doing something)' by the verb which follows each expression. When followed by a verb in its infinitive form (without 'to'), 'used to' indicates a regular or habitual action in the past. When followed by a verb in the progressive (ING) form 'used to' indicates the idea of being accustomed to something. Also someone 'used to' do something, but they 'ARE used to doing something'.
2 is used to: 'To be used to something' expresses an idea of being accustomed to something. It does not make sense to use it here.
2 use to: The expression 'used to' is always expressed in the past tense form, so it requires a 'd' at the end of the word.
3 is used to: 'To be used to something' expresses the idea of being accustomed to something. The verb 'used' is always put in the past tense form, however the verb 'to be' is conjugated according to the context and tense of the sentence.
3 was used to: Because of the phrase 'by now' we know that the verb 'to be' must be put in the present tense form. Note: the verb 'used' is always put in the past tense in the expression 'to be used to (doing) something'.
3 is using to: In the expression 'to be used to', the verb 'used' is always written in the past tense form. We should not add '-ing' to the verb in this case. The only part of the expression which depends on the context of the sentence is 'to be', which in this particular expression is put in the simple present tense.
Exercise 5
When he was young and immature, Philip Cheeter hate poetry because he thought it was for nerds and artists. Now that he is older and even less mature, he still feels the same way.
When he was young and immature, Philip Cheeter used to hate poetry because he thought it was for nerds and artists. Now that he is older and even less mature, he still feels the same way.
used to: When followed by an infinitive verb, 'used to' expresses an idea of habit or repetition in the past. 'Used to' is always followed by the infinitive form of the verb, without 'to' ('detest'). Here the sentence indicates that in the past, Philip Cheeter didn't like poetry.
use to: The expression 'used to' is always expressed in the past tense form, so it requires a 'd' at the end of the word. If not, the verb expresses the sense of 'utilizing'.
is used to: 'To be used to something' expresses the idea of being accustomed to something. It does not make sense to use it here.
used: In order to correctly employ the expression 'used to', we must include the infinitive marker 'to' to precede the infinitive verb which follows ('to hate' in this case).
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