Usage examples for used to. Grammatical construction used to in English

Those who study English often confuse two expressions - I used to do smth and I "m used to smth, because they are similar in appearance. Moreover, when speaking quickly, it is difficult to notice the difference. Let's look at how these constructions are used and what is the difference between them.

I used to do smth

Let's start with the first expression − I used to do smth- first of all, we note that this is the past form of the expression, but since it is most often used in this form, we will give examples in the past tense:

• I used to take the bus to get to work - I usually went to work by bus
• I used to go for a walk in the park - I often walked in the park
• He used to meet me near the door of my house - He used to meet me at the door of my house.
• People used to send letters to each other - Formerly people sent letters to each other.

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As can be seen from the examples, used to plays the role of an adverb and is translated as “usually, happened, often, before”, i.e. using this construction, we want to emphasize that someone used to or liked to perform some action in the past. Used to do smth points to repeated action in the past , but currently this action is no longer performed.

I'm used to (doing) smth

to be used to – get used to something . Unlike the previous construction, which we translated into an adverb, this one is a predicate in a sentence and can be used in the present and past tense to express both a habitual action (habit) and something that we can put up with, such as pain, the absence of someone, etc.

• He is used to my whole day absence - He is used to the fact that I am absent all day
• Poor boy! He is used to pain - Poor boy! he is used to pain.
• I was used to having meals three times a day - I used to eat three times a day
• I'm used to driving on the left as I've lived in Britain for a long time. — I am used to driving on the left as I have lived in Britain for a long time.

In this construction, the verb be can be replaced with a verb get :

• My new job starts at 7 a.m., so I'll have to get used to early rising. - My new job starts at 7 am, so I have to get used to getting up early.

Construction “ used to” is used to describe activities (habits) that happened regularly in the past, but no longer happen:

Building sentences with the "used to" construction

Statement

AT affirmative proposals to the design used to added infinitive of a semantic verb denoting the regular action in question:

She used to read a lot.

She read a lot.

Negation

Negation is formed with an auxiliary verb did and particles not:

She didn't use to read a lot.

She didn't read much.

Question

The question is formed with the help of an auxiliary verb did, which is placed at the beginning of the sentence:

Did she use to read a lot?

Did she read a lot?

The “used to” construction is used to describe actions (habits) that happened regularly. in the past, but don't happen anymore. For example, I used to play computer games but now I don't have enough time for it. - I used to play computer games, but now I don't have enough time for this. This example assumes that a person used to regularly play computer games , and due to the fact that the action was regular in the past, it is the “used to” construction that is used. Listen to another example: Tom used to go in for football but now he goes in for tennis. plays tennis.In this example, activities (playing football) were also regular.

Let's talk about the rules for constructing affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences with the used to construction.

• In affirmative sentences, the infinitive of the semantic verb denoting the regular action in question is added to the construction used to. For example, She used to read a lot - She read a lot.


• Negation is formed using the auxiliary verb did and the particle not: She didn’t use to read a lot - She didn’t read a lot


• The question is formed using the auxiliary verb did, which is placed at the beginning of the sentence: Did she use to read a lot - Did she read a lot?

Hello friends. Design used to used to express repeated actions in the past. used to has only one past tense form and is not used in other tenses. Construction value used to can be expressed as " before», « before», « before usually».

The used to construction is used in the following cases

1. When we talk about actions that used to happen quite often, but now they don’t go away at all. (he used to take the subway to work, but now he has bought a car and doesn't take the subway anymore)
2. When we talk about facts or situations that were before, but now they are not. (we used to be friends, but now we don't communicate)

This construction is formed very simply. The verb in the initial form is added to used to. Please note that the verb is not placed in the past, but in initial form.

used to + I verb form

For example:

• I used to go to the beach every day.
  Before Every day I went to the beach.
• Jerry used to study English.
  Jerry used to study English.
• Sam and Mary used to go to Mexico in the summer.
  Sam and Mary used to travel often to Mexico in the summer.
• I used to start work at 9 o'clock.
  Before I started work at 9 o'clock.
• Christine used to eat meat, but now she is a vegetarian.
  Before Kristina ate meat and now she's a vegetarian

Used To or Simple Past

Both "used to" and Simple Past can be used to describe repeated events in the past, isolated facts that are no longer true.

However, "used to" is preferred when affirmative sentences emphasize the repetition of actions in the past. However, in interrogative and negative sentences Simple Past is preferred.

For example:

• You used to play the piano.
  Before you played on the piano.
• Did you play the piano when you were young?
  you as a child played on the piano?
• You did not play the piano when you were young.
  As a child you didn't play on the piano.

Interrogative sentence

Interrogative sentences with the construction "used to + infinitive" are used infrequently.
Questions can be structured in two ways:

1) Traditionally through an auxiliary verb did

• Did you use to go to discos when you were younger?
• What did he use to have breakfast when you lived in the USA?

2) Used itself is used as an auxiliary verb

• Used they to be friends at school?
• Used he to play with the kids after work?

Let's summarize our rule

Design used to used when talking about actions repeated many times in the past, but now these actions no longer exist.

The Used to construct is not used if the action is still in progress; if the action was one-time.

This turnover has three forms of formation: affirmative, negative and interrogative:

• Tomusedtosmoke. - Tom used to smoke (Tom used to smoke)
• Tomdidn'ttusetosmoke. Tom didn't smoke.
• DidTomusetosmoke? - Did Tom have a habit of smoking before?

There are three main points to pay attention to:

• The Used to construct does not change for persons and numbers.
• Used to has no present or future tense, only recurring events in the past that no longer occur in the present.
• This structure uses needles for actions and verbs for states.

Design used to. Exercises

Exercise 1.Put the words in the correct order to make sentences:

1. used - we - France - in - to - live
2. getting - I'm - to - here - living - now - used
3. gym - get - I'll - to - used - to - going - the - soon
4. hair - blonde - she - have - to - used
5. neighbor - I'm - used - not - my - to - new
6. quickly - they - countryside - used to - got - in - to - the - living - very
7. used to - Mel - home - work - walking - from - is
8. can't - Sam - divorce - used to - living - after - get - alone

Exercise 2.Choose the correct answer a, b or c:

1. used to have
2. didn't use to have
3. not used to have

2. I couldn't sleep last night at all because I _______________ my new bed.

1. not used to
2. wasn't used to
3. didn't get used to

3. When Adam got a job, he _______________ getting up early very quickly.

1. used to
2. got used to
3. get used to

4. When I moved to Norway, it was hard for me to _______________ cold summer. But now I'm OK with it.

1. am used to
2. get used to
3. be used to

5. I know this company, but I ___________________ work there.

1. used to
2. didn't use to
3. didn't used to

6. This computer is very easy to use. You _______________ in a day, I'm sure.

1. got used to
2. will be used to
3. will get used to

7. At first Michael didn't like his new boss, but finally he _________________ her.

1. got used to
2. is used to
3. get used to

8. Our new colleague is very lazy and I don’t think he ____________________ working hard in our company.

1. is used to
2. used to
3. will get used to

9. Dan ________________ married, but now he is single again.

1. used to be
2. got used to be
3. did used to be

10. When I was a child, I ______________ play computer games a lot.

1. used to
2. was used to
3. got used to

Exercise 3Complete the sentences with correct forms of used to/be used to/get used to. Use negative forms where necessary.

1. When Kate moved to England, she couldn't ________________ British accent.
2. I know Mary, we _________________ go to the same cooking class.
3. We _________________ local food, it's too spicy.
4. It’s difficult for American drivers to ________________ driving on the left side of the road in Britain.
5. Have you seen Sam's new car? Before he got it, he'd ________________ get to work by bus.
6. Working overtime isn't a problem for me. I __________________ it. I did the same at my previous job.
7. When Tina lived with her parents, she __________________ have a big house, but now she lives in a small room and she finds it difficult ___________________ it.
8. I _______________ working in this company very quickly, people are very friendly here.
9. When he was younger, Mike ___________________ go camping a lot. But now he does it very often and enjoys it so much.
10. I don't like going to the discos because I __________________ that kind of music.

Expressions: USED TO / TO BE USED TO / WOULD

To use- one of the most "useful" verbs in the English language, which is already reflected in its very meaning - "use, use."

Differences in pronunciation

Verb to use and noun use are homographs, that is, words with the same spelling but different meanings and even pronunciations. Verb to use pronounced with a voiced consonant in the middle - , while a similar noun with the meaning "use" is pronounced with a voiceless consonant — .

Values

use, use, apply	You can use this device to measure the temperature indoors and outdoors.	You can use this device to measure indoor and outdoor temperature.
take advantage of something	You should use the services of the tourists' information office.	You should use the services of the Tourist Information Office.
take advantage of	I suspect him in using our company as a platform for promoting his own business separately from us.	I suspect it is being used in our company as a platform to promote their business separately from us.
spend, consume	This organization uses three tons of petrol in a month.	This organization consumes three tons of gasoline per month.
spend, spend (time)	George used only five days in his cycling journey of 600 miles.	George spent just five days on his 600 mile bike ride.
deal with someone	Tom doesn't deserve to be used well.	Tom doesn't deserve to be treated well.
accustom	I tend to tell other people a lot of my private life. Now I'm trying to use myself to keep silent when I need it.	I tend to tell other people a lot about my personal life. Now I try to train myself to be silent when I need it.

Grammatical forms

Despite the apparent simplicity of grammatical forms regular verb touse, it is of great interest precisely from a grammatical point of view, because this verb underlies several grammatical constructions at once that can confuse a person who is ignorant of them. However, before moving on to complex constructions, it is necessary to master the basics - namely, the three basic forms of this verb, given below:

theInfinitive(infinitive, initial form)	the Past Simple Tense(past simple tense)	the Past Participle(past participle)
tabout use
When I am short of money I try to use all the possibilities to earn some extra money myself and not to borrow them. / If I don't have enough money, I try use every opportunity to earn extra money on your own, rather than borrow it.	Jessica used her mobile phone to call for an ambulance. / Jessica used her mobile phone to call an ambulance.	Have you ever cheated or used a crib in an exam or a test?/ Have you ever cheated or used cheat sheets on an exam or a test?

Based on these basic forms a table of tenses of the active voice of the verb is built to use:

	Simple	Continuous	Perfect	Perfect Continuous
present	the Present Simple Tense use/ uses We use this device for communicating in all the rooms of our company. / We use this device to communicate in all our company premises.	the PresentContinuousTense am/is/are using Right now I am using your washing machine to wash my old jeans. / Right now I'm using your washing machine to wash my old jeans.	the Present Perfect Tense have / has been used My grandmother has never used a computer. / My grandmother never used a computer.	the Present PerfectContinuousTense have/has been using John has been using this method of learning new words for many years. / John has been using this way of learning new words for years.
Past	the Past Simple Tense used James used his father's car to get to the nearest railway station. / James used his father's car to get to the nearest train station.	the PastContinuousTense was/were using When I went in, my little sister was using my laptop computer for watching cartoons. / When I walked in, my little sister was using my laptop to watch cartoons.	the past perfect Tense had used When the emergency services arrived, the boys had already used all their equipment to get out of the cave, but all in vain. / When the rescue team arrived, the boys had already used all their equipment to get out of the cave, but all in vain.	the Past PerfectContinuousTense hadhave been using By the time she learned that the medicine was carcinogenic she had already have been using it for half a year. / By the time she found out the drug was carcinogenic, she had already been using it for half a year.
Future	the Future Simple Tense willuse After this situation I will never use the services of this travel agency . / After this situation, I will never use the services of this travel agency.	the FutureContinuousTense will be using When you decide to provide us with your support we will be using the services of any other company. / When you decide to give us your support, we will already use the services of any other company.	the Future Perfect Tense will have used By the end of the year they will have used the services of that company. / By the end of the year, they will already use the services of that company.	the Future PerfectContinuousTense will havebeenusing By the end of the month we will have been using this washing machine for three years. / By the end of the month, it will be three years since we have been using this washing machine.

Verb touse belongs to the number, that is, those that control the direct object (whom? what?) of verbs. This fact allows it to be used in the passive voice. Below are its forms:

	Simple	Continuous	Perfect	Perfect Continuous
present	am/is/are used This machine is used for cooking coffee. / This machine is used to make coffee.	am/is/are being used I'm afraid you can't ride that bicycle. It is being used. / I'm afraid you won't be able to ride that bike. It is used.	have/has been used All the cars here have already been used. / All these machines have already been used.
Past	was/were used Those pencils were used for drawing. / Those pencils were used for drawing.	was/were being used When we came into the computer room all the computers were being used. / When we arrived at the computer room, all the computers were already in use.	had been used Before I bought this car had already been used by two owners. / Before I bought this car, it had already been used by two owners.
Future	will be used This plane will be used for delivering goods to the customers. / This aircraft will be used to deliver goods to customers.		will have been used This device will have been used for two months by the moment when we decide to sell it. / This device will have been used for two months by the time we decide to sell it.

The construction used to as a special way of expressing the past

Design used to, used before the infinitive of a verb, serves to indicate actions that were regularly or constantly performed in the past, but no longer occur in the present:

Iused to smoke 20 cigarettes a day. But now I enjoy a healthy lifestyle.	I used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day. But now I enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
Alex didn't use to eat a lot of chocolate when he was a child. And now he loves chocolate.	Alex didn't eat much chocolate when he was a kid. Now he loves chocolate.
Did you use to go to bed early two years ago?	Did you go to bed early two years ago?

You can read more about this grammatical phenomenon in a separate article dedicated to him.

Construction to get/be used to

Another design - to get/be used to - only external similarity unites with the previous one, but they should not be confused. To getused to means "to get used to something", and to beused to- to be accustomed to something. Both expressions require a noun, pronoun, or gerund after them, but never the infinitive of the verb, as used to:

Some friends of mine have moved to the United Kingdom. They are getting used to driving on the left.	Some of my friends have moved to the United Kingdom. They get used to driving on the leftside.
Jessica has moved to the south of the country. It's quite difficult for her because she isn't used to the heat.	Jessica moved to the south of the country. It is quite difficult for her because she is not used to the heat.

Phrasal verbs

With base use There is only one phrasal verb:

Set expressions

Collocations and set expressions with a verb use quite a bit of. Here are just a few of them

to use one's discretion	act at one's own discretion
to use widely	apply widely
to use a steam hummer to crack nuts	to exaggerate, to make an elephant out of a fly; shoot cannons at sparrows
to use somebody after his deserts	treat someone the way they deserve

We hope that familiarity with the verb to use brought you maximum benefit.

For those who study English, it can be difficult to master the “used to, be / get used to” rule. Many people simply confuse similar-sounding constructions. To use these phrases correctly, you need to understand what they mean.

past habits

Expression usedto denotes actions that often happened in the past, but no longer occur now. Usually the construction is translated as "before", "once".

I used to go for a walk every morning. unfortunately,Ihavenotimenow. - I used to go for a walk every morning. Unfortunately, I don't have time for that right now.

He used to be a shop-assistant. nowisamillionaire. - Once he was a salesman, and now he is a millionaire.

In this case, we are only talking about past habits, so the verb cannot be used in the present tense. In other words, you can't say "use to". The rules of use require the verb to be put in the Past Simple. If you need to talk about the habits that exist at the moment, use the Present Simple.

I used to eat bananas for breakfast. - BeforeIateon thebreakfastbananas.

Iusuallyeatbananasforbreakfast. I usually eat bananas for breakfast.

Please note: after the particle to is always infinitive. Other forms of the verb are not allowed here.

My sister used to be a naughty child. - Mysisterwasnaughtychild.

Let's continue with the rule. Usedto used not only in affirmative sentences. We can safely construct a negative or interrogative sentence.

In the question, the first place is given did, followed by the subject and use to. The past tense is taken over by the auxiliary verb, so the initial form should be used useto.

Didsheusetowakeupearlywhenshewenttoschool? Did she have a habit of getting up early when she went to school?

Did they use to spend vacation together? - Beforetheycarried outtogethervacation?

In negative sentences, a particle is added to the auxiliary verb not, a useto also put in the initial form.

I didn't use to smoke when I was a schoolboy. - Inotsmoked, whenwentinschool.

Shedidn'ttusetoplaygolf. She hasn't played golf before.

Used to or would?

When it comes to past habits, sometimes another expression is used - would.

Kate would go to a swimming pool once a week. - BeforeKatewentinswimming poolonceinweek.

Remember the important rule: usedto can indicate both an action and a state.

Action: Myparentsdidn'ttusetogotoagym. - My parents never went to the gym before.

State: John didn'tusetoloveRockmusic. - Once upon a time, John did not like rock music.

Would indicates only a repeated action in the past. It is not used to describe a state.

My friend used to go shopping every weekend. Myfriendwouldgoshoppingeveryweekend. My friend used to go shopping every weekend.

But you can't say: John would love rock music. This proposal should use usedto.

Would can also describe actions that happened from time to time (often with an element of nostalgia). good translation in this case is the word "used to".

InmychildhoodIwouldgoforapicnicalmosteveryweekend. - As a child, I used to go to a picnic almost every weekend.

If you don't specify the regularity of the action, use usedto, not would.

whenhewasachildheusedtowakeuplate. - He woke up late when he was a child ( general position, regularity not specified).

whenhewasachild,hewouldwakeuplateatweekends. - When he was a child, he woke up late on weekends (it is indicated how often the action was performed).

have a habit of doing something

Let's look at another rule. used to often confused with to be used to. However, they are absolutely different meanings. Expression tobeusedto means "to have the habit of doing something", and it can be replaced by a synonymous construction tobeaccustomedto. Formerly a man he never did, but now his way of life has changed.

Heisusedtogettingupat 9am. - He used to get up at 9 am (he didn't do that before).

Since we are talking about a habit that a person has at the moment, the verb tobe logical to put in the present tense. For past habits, use the expression we already know usedto/didn"t use to. Compare:

My brother didn't use to eat healthy food. - Mybrotherbeforenotateusefulfood.

Now he is used to eating healthy food. - Nowheused tothere isusefulfood.

Don't forget to put a particle to- there is no expression useddoing. The rule also requires the use of the gerund, not the infinitive.

Jesse is used to making his bed in the morning. - Jessieused tocoverbedonin the morning.

I am used to go to school on my foot. - Iused towalkinschoolon foot.

get used to something

Phrase togetusedto very close in value to the previous design. But there is a certain shade of meaning - “to get used to”, “to master”, “to adapt”. In this case, the synonymic construction would be tobecomeaccustomedto.

It is difficult to get used to a new climate. - TOnewclimatedifficultadapt.

Here we are talking about a habit that is just beginning to form.

He is getting used to doing the laundry twice a week. - Heaccustomsmyselfwashclothestwiceperweek.

After the particle to you should also put a gerund.

TheyaregettingusedtospeakingChinese. They are getting used to speaking Chinese.

What grammatical tense should be used getusedto? The rule allows you to use any tense that makes sense.

Ittookhersometimetogetusedtonewtraditions. - It took some time before she got used to the new traditions.

In a few weeks you will get used to the local cuisine. - Throughcoupleweeksyouget used totolocalkitchen.

Exercises

We have discussed in detail the use usedto/beusedto/getusedto. The rule separates these constructions in meaning and grammatically. Practice using them in practice. Insert the appropriate words into the text. Be sure to select the correct time.

1. Jane -- smoke a lot. Then she quit it. Jen used to smoke a lot. But then she quit smoking.
2. I see you -_ new rules. Keep it up! I see you are getting used to the new rules. Keep it up!
3. How long did it take him to _ living in the suburbs? How long did it take him to get used to life in the suburbs?
4. You _ be very hardworking. You have become a lazybones! - You were so hardworking. You have become lazy!
5. We _ ​​speaking two languages. We are used to speaking two languages.
6. He _ coming in time. He taught himself to be on time.
7. I _ drinking tea. Coffee is bad for my health. - I've got into the habit of drinking tea. Coffee is bad for me.
8. Why don't you _ putting fewer spices in your food. I can't eat it! - Why don't you train yourself to put less spices in your food! I can't eat it!
9. I _ sweeping the floor every day. - I used to sweep the floor every day.
10. I_his pronunciation. Does anyone understand what he says? - I can't get used to his pronunciation. Does anyone even understand what he's saying?
11. Monika _ be a doctor, but she has already retired. Monika used to be a doctor. But she is already retired.
12. We _ ​​be friends. Then something went wrong. - We were friends. But then something went wrong.