Intermediate English · 18 min
Used to
The point
Used to plus the base is a past habit or a past state that is not true now. The negative and the question use did plus use to, and the next verb stays the base.
Form and use
Used to plus the base verb names a past habit or a past state that is not true now. She used to live here means she lived here before, and she does not live here now. The verb after used to is always the base: live, work, play. Used to lived and used to living are wrong.
Read the full set. I used to live here. You used to live here. He used to live here. She used to live here. We used to live here. They used to live here. I did not use to live here. You did not use to work here. He did not use to play here. Did I use to live here? Did you use to work here? Did she use to play? Yes, I did. No, she did not. Yes, they did.
Did already marks the past, so the -d drops: did not use to, and Did you use to. Do not write didn't used to. Usually belongs to the present. She usually walks to work describes a habit that is true now. Used to walks would mix the two times. Keep usually with the present simple, and used to with a finished habit.
Would can also tell a past repeated action, but only an action, not a state. After school we would play in the yard. You cannot say she would live here for a past state. Used to covers both habits and states. If the habit is finished, choose used to. If you only mean now, choose usually plus the present.
Don't translate it like this
Don't say
She used to lived here.
Say
She used to live here.
그녀는 여기에 살았습니다.
Used to plus the base live.
Short examples
She used to live here.
그녀는 여기에 살았습니다.
She did not use to live here.
그녀는 여기에 살지 않았습니다.
I used to walk to the office.
나는 예전에 사무실까지 걸어갔습니다.
She did not use to drink coffee.
그녀는 예전에 커피를 마시지 않았습니다.
Did you use to live near the station?
역 근처에 살았습니까?
Yes, I did.
네, 그랬습니다.
He used to play after school.
그는 방과 후에 놀곤 했습니다.
They usually start at nine.
그들은 보통 아홉 시에 시작합니다.
We would play in the yard.
우리는 마당에서 놀곤 했습니다.
She used to own a small flat.
그녀는 예전에 작은 집을 갖고 있었습니다.
Questions
Every question has to be right to close this point.
Answer every question, then check.