used to — past habits

How things used to be

• used to + base verb describes a former habit or state, often contrasted with now.
• I used to play football. There used to be a shop here.
• It presents the situation as belonging to an earlier period. A former regular habit does not mean the person can never do that activity again.

I used to wake early; my alarm clock misses that version of me.

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.

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.

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.

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.