Used to, would and be used to in English: past habits

Used to + verb is the past that is not true now: I used to smoke. (I don't now.) Would can say the same about actions. Be used to is different: it means something feels normal now.

Used to: true then, not now

Used to + the plain verb says something was true for a time in the past, and is not true now.

It works for two kinds of thing:

For one finished action, use the past simple: We went to the sea in 2019., not we used to go for one trip.

Didn't use to and Did you use to?

In a yes sentence, it is used, with a d. With did, the d goes, because did already says it is the past.

The two sound the same, so your ear will not help: only the rule will. Didn't used to is common in writing, but didn't use to is the standard spelling. Formal British English also has

Would: again and again

Would + the plain verb can also talk about the past: about actions you did again and again. People often use it to tell a story about when they were young.

• Every summer we would go to the sea.
• My granny would tell us stories at night.
• When it rained, we'd play cards in the kitchen.

Here used to works too, with the same meaning:

Would cannot do states

Would only works for actions done again and again. It does not work for states: live, have, know, like.

I used to live in London. is right. I would live in London means something else: an idea, as in I would live in London if I could. When you are not sure, use used to.

Not for now

Used to is only for the past. For a habit now, use the present simple, often with usually or always:

• I usually get up at seven. (not I use to get up at seven)
• She always drinks tea in the morning.

Be used to: it feels normal

Be used to is a different thing. It means something feels normal to you, because you have done it a lot. After it comes a noun or an -ing form:

• I'm used to the cold. (The cold feels normal to me.)
• She's used to getting up early.
• We aren't used to the noise yet.

After be used to, never the plain verb: I'm used to getting up early., not I'm used to get up early. The same to + -ing comes after look forward to; see gerund and infinitive.

Get used to: it starts to feel normal

Get used to is the change: something starts to feel normal.

• It took me a month to get used to the city.
• Don't worry, you'll get used to it.

Common mistakes

What to do next

1. Say three things you used to do as a child.
2. Say one thing you are used to now, and one you are not.
3. Do the drills below.