- We need used to + infinitive to compare the past with the present: ‘I used to eat fish, but now I don’t.’ We use it to discuss repeated actions (habits) and states in the past which are not true now.
- Time: completed actions in general past – not a specific time: ‘I used to play the piano
last Friday/in 1989.’ - Positive: used to / Negative: did not use to / Question: did you use to? (auxiliary verb: did)
- Note: use to sounds the same as used to because of connected speech, but we should write use to.
- The second clause is often present simple or present perfect, e.g. ‘I used to like Uno, but I haven’t played in ages.’
- If nothing has changed, we can use still: ‘I used to like pasta and I still do.’
- Can be used as an alternative to past simple; not connected with verb ‘to use’ or the construction ‘get / be used to’.
- We can use would in a similar way to used to – especially to tell a story – but not with past states, e.g. be, have, etc.
Repeated actions in the past with used to
Practice using used to + infinitive with the free printable worksheets below:
Repeated Actions in the Past with Used to – Free Worksheet 1:
Direct download: https://purlandtraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/repeated-actions-in-the-past-with-used-to-1.pdf
Repeated Actions in the Past with Used to – Free Worksheet 2:
Direct download: https://purlandtraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/repeated-actions-in-the-past-with-used-to-2.pdf
Repeated Actions in the Past with Used to – Blank:
Direct download: https://purlandtraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/repeated-actions-in-the-past-with-used-to-blank.pdf
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