Every person learning English, as they mastered the material, had to deal with the mysterious construction used to. If you try to translate it literally, then some kind of absurdity comes out. So, let's try to figure out what is its meaning and use?
Design used to: values and forms
First of all, we use used to when referring to events and situations in the past that are no longer true. Using used to, we can describe repeated or familiar actions, states, or situations that relate to the past tense. For instance:
He used to play football for the local team, but he's too old now.
That white house over there used to belong to my family.
Transfer. He used to play football for the local team, but now he is too old for sports.
This white house used to belong to my family.
In the second sentence, the used to construct expresses the idea that we were the owners of the house in the past, but now we are not.
Take note
Used to in affirmative sentences is always used in Past Simple, the simple past tense. It is also worth noting that before the used to construct in English, we do not use the verb to be, since in this case it changes its meaning.
We used to go to the seaside every summer when I was a kid. This is not to say: We are used to go ... or We use to go ... or We were used to go ...
Transfer. We went to the sea every summer when I was a child.
Negative sentences with the construction used to in English: didn´t use to
Interestingly, the negative form used to has two spelling variations: didn't use and to didn't used to. Both forms are actively used by native speakers, but many linguists consider the form ending in -d incorrect, so it is not recommended to use it during exams, tests and tests. For instance:
It didn't use to be so crowded in the shops as it is nowadays.
I didn't used to like broccoli when I was younger, but I love it now.
Transfer. Previously, the stores were not as crowded as they are now.
Earlier, when I was younger, I did not like broccoli, but now I like it.
In very formal styles, we can use the negative form used not to:
She used not to live as poorly as she does now.
Transfer. She used to not live as badly as she is now.
Interrogative sentences
The most common form of the question is the construction of the auxiliary verb to do + use (d) to. Remember the two possible forms of use to and used to and do not use the second in exams.
I think we met once, a couple of years ago. Did you use to work with Kevin Harris?
Didn't she used to live in the same street as us?
Transfer. I think we met once, a couple of years ago. Have you worked with Kevin Harris before?
Didn’t she live on the same street as us?
Emphase
Together with the construction used to we can use the verb did, as one of the expressive auxiliary means. For instance:
We never used to mix very much with the neighbors, but we did used to say hello to them in the street.
Transfer. Previously, we never talked with neighbors, but on the street they said hello.
Separation Issues
Separation questions along with used to are formed using the auxiliary verb did.
He used to be your boss, did he?
We used to love going to the museum, didn't we?
Transfer. He was your boss, right?
We loved going to the museum, right?
Used to vs. Would?
In English, in order to talk about people's habits in the past, we can use both used to and would.
When we use them together, the used to construct is usually used before would because it sets up the scene of the reported actions:
When we were kids, we used to invent amazing games. We would imagine we were the government and we would make crazy laws that everyone had to obey.
Transfer. When we were kids, we came up with amazing games. We imagined as if we were sitting in government, and created crazy laws that everyone had to obey.
Used to can describe a state or situation that is no longer true with state verbs or verbs that are not used in the Continious group (use with such verbs is not allowed). Examples of similar sentences with the used to construct:
We used to live in Manchester. Do not use: We would live in Manchester.
'The Townhouse' used to be a Greek restaurant. It's Italian now.Do not use: 'The Townhouse' would be a Greek restaurant ...
Transfer. We used to live in Manchester.
The Townhouse used to be a Greek restaurant. Now it is Italian.
Used to vs. be / get used to?
Used to is used to indicate past actions and situations that no longer occur or are no longer true. The design always describes the elapsed time. For instance:
She used to sing in a choir, but she gave it up.
Transfer. She sang in the choir, but she threw it. (She sang but no longer sings)
Be or get used to means "get used to something" or "be familiar with something." This design can be used to describe the past, present or future.
According to the rules, after be or get used, the noun, pronoun or -ing form of the verb should follow.
I work in a hospital, so I'm used to long hours.
She lives in a very small village and hates traffic. She'snot used to it.
He was a salesman, so he was used to traveling up and down the country.
Transfer. I work in a hospital, so I'm used to working for a long time. (I know what it is to work for a long time)
She lives in a very small village and hates traffic in big cities. She is not used to it.
He worked as a translator, so traveling for the world was not a novelty for him - he was used to traveling around the world.
We can also use the get used to construct, and in a more formal context, become used to. So, pay attention to the following example.
University is very different from school, but don't worry. You'll soon get used to it. More Formally: You'll soon become used to it.
Transfer. A university is very different from a school, but don’t worry, you will get used to it soon.