The verb “use” means to utilize. However, when we use this verb in the past simple with the preposition “to” (“used to”), its meaning changes. This construction, “used to”, can also be used as an adjective. Below is an explanation of the various uses of “used to”.
Used to
The modal verb “used to” is utilized to indicate something that happened on a regular basis in the past. It is also used for things that were true in the past, but are no longer true. As with the other modal verbs, “used to” is followed by the base form of the principal verb.
Structure
Subject + “used to” + verb…
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We used to go to the beach every summer when I was young.
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He used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, but he quit last year.
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I used to like mushrooms, but not anymore.
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There used to be a great restaurant here, but it closed a few years ago.
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Subject + “didn’t” + “use to” + verb…
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I didn’t use to like mushrooms, but now I do.
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Food didn’t use to be so expensive.
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We didn’t use to go away on holiday very often when I was young.
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3. Interrogative Sentences
“Did” + subject + “use to” + verb…?
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Didn’t he use to smoke a lot?
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Did you use to live here?
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Did they use to go to the beach in the summers?
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Note: We do not use “used to” for habits or things that happen on a regular basis in the present. Instead of this modal verb, we use adverbs such as “usually” or “normally” in the present.
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We usually go to the beach every summer.
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He normally smokes a pack of cigarettes every day.
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They usually play football on the weekends.
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Note: The modal verb “would” is also used for repeated actions or events in the past, but keep in mind that “
would” can only be used with actions, not with states of being or habits. Also, “
would” cannot be used in the negative. For more information on the other uses of “
would”, see the lesson plans on
conditional sentences and
modal verbs.
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When I was young, we would go to the beach every summer.
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At the university, they would play football every weekend.
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When I was young we wouldn’t go to the beach every summer.
Note: The modal verb “would” is also used for repeated actions or events in the past, but keep in mind that “would” can only be used with actions, not with states of being or habits. Also, “would” cannot be used in the negative. For more information on the other uses of “would”, see the lesson plans on conditional sentences and modal verbs|.
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When I was young, we would go to the beach every summer.
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At the university, they would play football every weekend.
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When I was young we wouldn’t go to the beach every summer.
To be used to
When we use “used to” as an adjective it means “accustomed to” or “habituated to”. We use this adjective for things that are familiar, normal or common and it can be used with any verb tense. When “to be used to” is followed by a verb, the verb must be in the gerund (“-ing”).
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She’s used to living alone.
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We weren’t used to traveling a lot.
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I’m not used to this cold weather.
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Note: When we use the verb “
get” instead of “
be”, it indicates the process of familiarization. See the lesson on the verb
to get for more information.
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They divorced over 2 years ago. She has gotten used to living alone.
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With this new job I am getting used to traveling a lot.
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You need to get used to this cold weather if you are going to live here.
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Note: When we use the verb “get” instead of “be”, it indicates the process of familiarization. See the lesson on to verb “to get” for more information.
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They divorced over 2 years ago. She has gotten used to living alone.
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With this new job I am getting used to traveling a lot.
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You need to get used to this cold weather if you are going to live here.
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El verbo “use” significa “usar” o “utilizar”. Sin embargo, cuando utilizamos este verbo en el pasado simple, más la preposición “to”, como verbo modal, el significado cambia. Además, se puede utilizar “used to” como adjetivo. A continuación tienes una explicación de los diferentes usos.
Used to (Soler)
Usamos el verbo modal “used to” para indicar algo que ocurría o sucedía en el pasado de manera habitual. También, se utiliza para algo que antes era verdad pero ya no lo es. Como con los otros verbos modales, “used to” está seguido por la forma base del verbo (el infinitivo sin “to”).
Structure (Estructura)
1. Affirmative Sentences (Frases afirmativas)
Sujeto + “used to” + verbo…
Ejemplos:
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We used to go to the beach every summer when I was young.(Cuando era joven solíamos ir a la playa cada verano.)
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He used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, but he quit last year.(Solía fumar un paquete de cigarrillos al día, pero lo dejó el año pasado.)
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I used to like mushrooms, but not anymore.(Antes me gustaban las setas, pero ya no.)
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There used to be a great restaurant here, but it closed a few years ago.(Había un buen restaurante aquí, pero cerró hace unos años.)
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2. Negative Sentences (Frases negativas)
Sujeto + “didn’t” + “use to” + verbo…
Ejemplos:
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I didn’t use to like mushrooms, but now I do.(Antes no me gustaban las setas, pero ahora sí.)
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Food didn’t use to be so expensive.(La comida no solía ser tan cara.)
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We didn’t use to go away on holiday very often when I was young.(No solíamos ir de vacaciones a menudo cuando era joven.)
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3. Interrogative Sentences (Frases interrogativas)
Did + sujeto + “use to” + verbo…?
Ejemplos:
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Didn’t he use to smoke a lot?(Él fumaba mucho antes, ¿no?)
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Did you use to live here?(¿Vivías aquí antes?)
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Did they use to go to the beach in the summers?(¿Solían ir a la playa durante los veranos?)
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Nota: No utilizamos “used to” para acciones habituales en el presente. En vez de este verbo modal, se usa un adverbio como “usually” o “normally” por ejemplo.
Ejemplos:
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We usually go to the beach every summer.(Solemos ir a la playa cada verano.)
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He normally smokes a pack of cigarettes every day.(Normalmente él fuma un paquete de cigarrillos cada día.)
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They usually play football on the weekends.(Suelen jugar a fútbol los fines de semana.)
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Nota: También se puede utilizar el verbo modal “would” para eventos o acciones repetidas en el pasado. Pero ten en cuenta que sólo se puede usar con acciones, no con estados o hábitos. Tampoco se puede utilizar “
would” en el negativo. Para información de los otros usos de “
would” ver las lecciones de
frases condicionales y los
verbos modales.
Ejemplos:
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When I was young, we would go to the beach every summer.(Cuando era joven solíamos ir a la playa cada verano.)
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At the university, they would play football every weekend.(En la universidad, ellos solían jugar a fútbol cada fin de semana.)
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He would smoke a lot.
When I was young we wouldn’t go to the beach every summer.
Nota: También se puede utilizar el verbo modal “would” para eventos o acciones repetidas en el pasado. Pero ten en cuenta que sólo se puede usar con acciones, no con estados o hábitos. Tampoco se puede utilizar “would” en el negativo. Para información de los otros usos de “would” ver las lecciones de las frases condicionales} y los verbos modales.
Ejemplos:
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When I was young, we would go to the beach every summer.(Cuando era joven solíamos ir a la playa cada verano.)
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At the university, they would play football every weekend.(En la universidad, ellos solían jugar a fútbol cada fin de semana.)
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He would smoke a lot.
When I was young we wouldn’t go to the beach every summer.
To be used to (Estar acostumbrado a)
Cuando se utiliza “used to” como adjetivo significa “estar acostumbrado a”. Se usa para cosas que son familiares, normales o comunes y se puede usar en cualquier tiempo verbal. Cuando “to be used to” está seguido por un verbo, el verbo tiene que estar en gerundio (“‑ing”).
Ejemplos:
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She’s used to living alone.(Ella está acostumbrada a vivir sola.)
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We weren’t used to traveling a lot.(No estábamos acostumbrados a viajar mucho.)
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I’m not used to this cold weather.(No estoy acostumbrado a este frío.)
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Nota: Cuando utilizamos el verbo
“get” en vez de
“be” indica el proceso de familiarizarse con algo. Ver la lección del verbo
to get para más información sobre este verbo.
Ejemplos:
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They divorced over 2 years ago. She has gotten used to living alone.(Se divorciaron hace más de 2 años. Ella se ha acostumbrado a vivir sola.)
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With this new job I am getting used to traveling a lot.(Con este nuevo trabajo me estoy acostumbrando a viajar mucho.)
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You need to get used to this cold weather if you are going to live here.(Necesitas acostumbrarte a este frío si vas a vivir aquí.)
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Nota: Cuando utilizamos el verbo “get” en vez de “be” indica el proceso de familiarizarse con algo. Ver la lección del verbo “to get” para más información sobre este verbo.
Ejemplos:
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They divorced over 2 years ago. She has gotten used to living alone.(Se divorciaron hace más de 2 años. Ella se ha acostumbrado a vivir sola.)
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With this new job I am getting used to traveling a lot.(Con este nuevo trabajo me estoy acostumbrando a viajar mucho.)
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You need to get used to this cold weather if you are going to live here.(Necesitas acostumbrarte a este frío si vas a vivir aquí.)
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