We use used to + base verb to talk about:
✅ things we did regularly in the past, but don’t do now
✅ situations that were true in the past, but aren’t true now

“I used to take the bus to school.” (I don’t take it now.)
“There used to be a park here.” (The park isn’t here anymore.)

⚙️ Structure of used to

Form	Structure	Example
✅ Affirmative	Subject + used to + base verb	I used to play tennis.
❌ Negative	Subject + didn’t use to + base verb	I didn’t use to like vegetables.
❓ Question	Did + subject + use to + base verb?	Did you use to live near the beach?

🟡 Notice: After did, we write use to (without “d”).
🟡 The verb after “used to” never changes — it’s always the base form!

🕰️ Used to vs. Past Simple

Both talk about the past, but there’s a difference 👇

Used to	Past Simple
repeated habits or states that are not true now	one specific past action
“I used to go jogging every morning.”	“I went jogging yesterday.”
“We used to live in Paris.”	“We moved to Paris in 2015.”

💡 Tip: If it happened regularly and it’s not true now → use used to.
If it happened once → use Past Simple.

💬 Pronunciation & Speaking Tip

When speaking quickly, used to often sounds like /ˈjuːstə/.

“I used to go to the gym” → sounds like “I yoosta go to the gym.”

✅ Practice saying:

• I used to watch cartoons.
• Did you use to play an instrument?
• We didn’t use to eat sushi.

🧠 Quick Review

✅ Used to + base verb → past habits or states that are not true now
✅ Didn’t use to / Did you use to… → questions and negatives
✅ Past Simple → specific actions in the past
✅ Use used to to talk about change over time

Let’s practice

Speaking

Practice 1

Complete the sentences about your past habits.

Practice 2

Look at the pictures in the cards and make a sentence about your past habits.

Example: When I was a child, I didn’t use to have a mobile phone.

Board game