Used to — Past Habits or States
We use used to + infinitive to talk about things we did regularly in the past but don’t do anymore.
Structure:
used to + base verb
I used to play soccer every weekend, but now I don’t.
She used to live in New York, but she moved last year.
Use to vs Used to
In positive sentences, always use used to:
I used to go to that school.
In questions and negatives, use did + use to (because “did” shows past tense):
Did you use to play the guitar?
I didn’t use to like vegetables.
Used to vs Would
Both can talk about past habits, but would only talks about actions (not states or feelings). For example:
When I was young, I would visit my grandparents every summer.
I used to have long hair.
(Correct: states)
(Correct: states)
Be Used to + Verb-ing — To Be Accustomed To Something
Use be used to + verb-ing to say you are familiar with or comfortable doing something.
The verb be changes with tense and subject.
I’m used to waking up early.
She wasn’t used to driving in heavy traffic.
They will be used to working at night soon.
You can also use be used to + noun:
I’m used to the noise in this city.
He isn’t used to cold weather.
Get Used to + Verb-ing or Noun — To Become Accustomed To Something
Use get used to to talk about becoming familiar or comfortable with something new or different.
I need to get used to working from home.
She’s getting used to the new schedule.
They never got used to the spicy food.
Important: Don’t Confuse “Use to” with the Verb “To Use”
Use to talks about past habits.
To use means to employ or apply something.
What did you use to do on weekends?
I used a knife to cut the cake.
Pronunciation Tip
Used to is pronounced like: /ˈjuːst tuː/ (the “s” sounds like an “s”).
To use is pronounced like: /tuː juːz/ (the “s” sounds like a “z”).
