used to — past habits · used to — hábitos pasados
How things used to be
- used to describes a past habit or state that is now over.
- I used to play football. There used to be a shop here.
- It tells us "before, but not now".
I used to wake early; my alarm clock misses that version of me.
Cómo solían ser las cosas
- used to describe un hábito o estado pasado que ahora está terminado.
- I used to play football. There used to be a shop here. (Solía jugar al fútbol. Solía haber una tienda aquí).
- Nos indica "antes, pero ya no".
I used to wake early; my alarm clock misses that version of me. (Solía despertarme temprano; mi despertador extraña esa versión mía).
Form: used to + base verb
- used to + base verb, the same for every subject.
- She used to live in Paris. We used to walk to school.
- Not used to played — the verb stays in its base form.
Estructura: used to + verbo en forma base
- used to + verbo en forma base, igual para todos los sujetos.
- She used to live in Paris. We used to walk to school. (Ella solía vivir en París. Solíamos caminar al colegio).
- No se dice used to played — el verbo permanece en su forma base.
Which sentence is correct? · ¿Cuál oración es correcta?
used to + base verb: “I used to play football.” · used to + verbo base: “I used to play football.”
Translate into English: 我过去常踢足球。 · Traduce al inglés: 我过去常踢足球。
Past habit → used to + base verb: “I used to play football.” · Hábito pasado → used to + verbo base: “I used to play football.”
Negatives & questions: didn't use to
- Negative: didn't use to + base verb.
- Question: Did … use to …?
- Careful: here it's use to (no "d") after did.
Negaciones y preguntas: didn't use to
- Negativo: didn't use to + verbo en forma base.
- Pregunta: Did … use to …?
- Atención: aquí es use to (sin "d") después de did.
used to — correct or wrong? · used to — ¿correcto o incorrecto?
used to + base verb; the negative/question is 'use to' (no d). · used to + verbo base; la forma negativa y pregunta es 'use to' (sin d).
Make it negative: I ___ use to like coffee. (didn't / wasn't) · Hazla negativa: I ___ use to like coffee. (didn't / wasn't)
Negative = didn't use to (no “d” on use). · Negativo = didn't use to (sin “d” en use).
Only the past
- used to is only for the past.
- For a habit you have now, use the present simple.
- I used to swim a lot. → now: I swim sometimes.
Solo para el pasado
- used to es solo para el pasado.
- Para un hábito que tienes ahora, usa el presente simple.
- I used to swim a lot. (Solía nadar mucho.) → ahora: I swim sometimes. (A veces nado).
Can “used to” describe a habit you have NOW? · ¿Puede “used to” describir un hábito que tienes AHORA?
No — used to is only for the past. For now, use the present simple. · No — used to es solo para el pasado. Para ahora, usa el presente simple.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I am used to play football. → two different patterns: used to play (past habit) vs am used to playing (accustomed to).
- ❌ I use to get up early. (about now) → ✓ I usually get up early. — no present form of used to.
- ❌ She used to living here. → ✓ She used to live here.
Errores comunes
- ❌ I am used to play football. → dos patrones diferentes: used to play (hábito pasado) vs am used to playing (acostumbrado a).
- ❌ I use to get up early. (sobre ahora) → ✓ I usually get up early. (Suelo despertarme temprano.) — no existe forma presente de used to.
- ❌ She used to living here. → ✓ She used to live here. (Ella solía vivir aquí).
Match each sentence to its meaning. · Empareja cada oración con su significado.
used to + base = past habit; be used to + noun/-ing = accustomed; usually = present habit. · used to + base = hábito pasado; be used to + sustantivo/-ing = acostumbrado; usually = hábito presente.
Complete: I ___ use to like coffee, but now I love it. · Completa: I ___ use to like coffee, but now I love it.
Negative: didn't use to (no d on use). · Negativo: didn't use to (sin d en use).
- used to + base verb = a past habit or state, now finished.
- Negative / question: didn't use to / Did … use to …? (no "d").
- Only for the past — present habits use the present simple.
- used to + verbo en forma base = un hábito o estado pasado, ahora terminado.
- Negativo / pregunta: didn't use to / Did … use to …? (sin "d").
- Solo para el pasado — los hábitos presentes usan el presente simple.
Write one sentence about something that was different in the past, using “used to”. · Escribe una oración sobre algo que era diferente en el pasado, usando “used to”.
Example: “I used to be afraid of dogs.” · Ejemplo: “I used to be afraid of dogs.”