Use to / Used to Lesson
In English, “used to” and “use to” are phrases that often cause confusion among learners. They both relate to past habits or states but are used in different contexts. “Used to” indicates a habit or state that was true in the past but is no longer the case. For example, “I used to drink coffee every morning” suggests that the speaker no longer drinks coffee every morning. “Use to” appears in the negative form or in questions, typically following the auxiliary verb “did.” It refers to actions that did not happen in the past or questioning about past habits, such as in “Did you use to play soccer?”
There is a little confusion on how to use the words use to and used to. One reason for the confusion is that it is sometimes used as a verb, and sometimes used as an adjective. The other reason is because it seems like the tense changes. It’s really quite simple when you look at it.
Used as an adjective. Use to be + used to. This means to be accustomed to. For example- I can study with the TV on. I am used to it. It means I am accustomed, adjusted, or don’t mind having the TV play while I’m studying.
Or another example- Tim had a hard time living in Tokyo. He wasn’t used to so many people. Tim didn’t have experience being with big crowds of people before.
Used as a verb. Use to + verb is a regular verb and means something that happened but doesn’t happen any more. It uses -ed to show past tense. But since it always means something that happened in the past, it should always use past tense. For example- I used to go to school in Paris. (I went to school there before, but now I don’t.) Or, When Joshua was a child, he used to climb trees. (Now he doesn’t climb trees.)
Remember, we always use this word when talking about the past. So when do you use use to without the d at the end? When the base form of the verb is used. Look at these examples- She didn’t use to swim before noon. (Now she does swim before noon.) Or Did your father use to ride a horse? In these cases the past tense is shown with the did and didn’t.
To help reinforce your understanding of “used to” and “use to,” here is a brief quiz with ten questions. Each question presents a sentence where you must choose the correct form or decide if the usage is correct. Try to apply the rules we’ve discussed and test your knowledge on distinguishing between these commonly confused forms.
You try…Use the correct form of use to. Decide if it is an adjective or verb. If it is a verb, does it use the base form of the verb, or does it need -ed?
1. Karen play with dolls.
2. Sheila wasn’t having to cook for herself.
3. Did Todd go skiing in the Alps?
4. I never get up so late.
5. His dog is staying home alone all day.
6. We didn’t use to fight like this.
7. I wonder if you will ever be working so hard.
8. She didn’t sing so well, did she?
9. Herbert play basketball after school.
10. They aren’t staying out so late.
Answer Key:
- used to (verb)
- used to (adjective)
- use to (verb)
- used to (verb)
- used to (adjective)
- use to (verb)
- used to (adjective)
- use to (verb)
- used to (verb)
- used to (adjective)
Frequently Asked Questions About “Used to” and “Use to”
“Used to” is used in affirmative statements to describe past habits or states that are no longer current. “Use to” is used primarily in negative statements or questions and follows “did,” e.g., “I didn’t use to like broccoli.”
No, “use to” cannot be used in affirmative sentences. It is correct only in negatives or questions when combined with “did,” such as “Did he use to work here?”
“Use to” needs the auxiliary verb “did” in questions and negatives because “did” indicates past tense, aligning “use to” with past habits or states. This structure helps maintain the temporal consistency of the sentence.
The correct form is “I used to go to the gym every day” if you are stating a past habit that no longer exists. If forming a negative or a question, it would be “Did I use to go to the gym every day?” or “I didn’t use to go to the gym every day.”
No, it is not grammatically correct to use “use to” without “did” in past contexts. The correct usage requires “did” for questions and negatives, while affirmative past habits use “used to.”