Used to — Past Habits That Are Gone

B1 — grammar, listening, reading, writing

Abuela Carmen: I used to live in the countryside. We used to swim in the river and dance cumbia every Saturday.

Kenji: Did you use to have electricity?

Abuela Carmen: Electricity? We used to have stars, my dear.

Ben: I used to have long hair. — Sofía: And we used to think it was a good idea. We don't anymore.

Common mistake: “I use to play soccer when I was a kid.” — Correct: “I used to play soccer when I was a kid.”

'Used to' describes habits and situations that were true in the past but are not true anymore — I used to..., but now I don't.

• Abuela Carmen used to live in the countryside.
• I used to play soccer every Sunday.
• Ben used to have long hair — there are photos.
• People used to write letters by hand.
• She didn't use to like coffee. Now she drinks three cups a day.
• I didn't use to speak English.
• We didn't use to have internet at home.
• Did you use to play with your cousins?
• Where did she use to live?
• Did people use to dance more?
• Did you use to play soccer? Yes, I did.
• Did Ben use to have long hair? Yes, he did.
• Did she use to like coffee? No, she didn't.

Practice

1. I ___ play soccer when I was a kid. (used to, use to, using to)
2. She didn't ___ like coffee. (used to, use to, uses to)
3. ___ you use to play with your cousins? (Do, Have, Did)
4. In negatives and questions, 'used to' loses the -d: didn't use to, Did you use to...?
5. 'Used to' can describe present habits.
6. Abuela Carmen ___ (live) in the countryside when she was young. (used to)
7. We ___ (not / have) internet at home. (use to)
8. Where did she ___ (live) before Medellín? (use to)
9. Unscramble: Ben, used, to, have, long, hair
10. Unscramble: did, you, use, to, play, outside
11. Find the mistake: I use to play soccer when I was a kid.
12. Find the mistake: She didn't used to like coffee.
13. Find the mistake: Did they used to dance cumbia?
14. People used to write letters. — Write the negative form.
15. She used to live in the countryside. — Write the yes/no question.
16. Did you use to play soccer? — Answer with a short answer (Yes).
17. I used to like reggaeton. — Write the negative form.
18. Ben didn't use to travel. — Write the affirmative form.
19. Did you use to watch cartoons? (short answer)
20. Did you use to speak English as a baby? (short answer, No)

Listening

Kenji: Abuela, what did you use to do on Saturdays?

Abuela Carmen: We used to go to the river in the morning and dance cumbia at night.

Sofía: Did you use to cook with your mother?

Abuela Carmen: Every day. We didn't use to buy bread — we used to make it.

Ben: I used to make bread too! Once. It was... technically bread.

Abuela Carmen: My dear, some people used to call that a brick.

Reading

Medellín used to be a very different city. Abuela Carmen remembers: 'The metro didn't use to exist — we used to take old buses that broke down every week. People used to carry umbrellas every day, because you never knew. And on Sundays, the whole neighborhood used to eat together in the street.' Some things have changed: now there is a metro, and the buses are new. But some things haven't: 'We still eat together on Sundays,' she says. 'Some habits are too delicious to lose.'

• The metro used to exist when Abuela Carmen was young.
• The old buses used to break down every week.
• The neighborhood used to eat together on Sundays.
• The Sunday tradition has disappeared.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'used to + verb' and 'be used to + -ing'?

'Used to + base verb' describes past habits or states that no longer exist ('I used to play tennis when I was young'). 'Be used to + noun/-ing' means being accustomed to something familiar ('I am used to waking up early, it is normal for me').

How do you form negative and question sentences with 'used to'?

Drop the 'd' because 'did' takes the past: 'I didn't use to like olives' and 'Did you use to live in London?'