used to

used to
used to
W2S1 [ˈju:st tu:] modal v
1.) if something used to happen, it happened regularly or all the time in the past, but does not happen now
He used to go to our school.
We're eating out more often than we used to.
did not use to do sth
You didn't use to eat chips when you were younger.
used not to do sth BrE
You used not to fuss like this.
did sb use to do sth?
Did you use to go to church regularly?
2.) if a particular situation used to exist, it existed for a period of time in the past, but does not exist now
Jimmy used to be a friend of mine.
There used to be a large car park on this site.
did not use to be/do sth
Why are you so bad-tempered? You didn't use to be like this.
did sb/sth use to be/do sth?
Did this building use to be a hotel?
Where did you use to live before you came to Manchester?
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GRAMMAR
If you used to do something, you did it regularly or for a period of time in the past : She used to come here (NOT was used to come here) every week. | I used to go to that school.
!! Do not say 'be used to'. This has a different meaning - see entry used1 .
!! Use the infinitive after used to , not the past tense : My dad used to grow vegetables (NOT used to grew vegetables).
!! For talking about a present habit, use usually : We usually eat (NOT use to eat) around six.
In questions, say did someone use to ...? : Did he use to fight with his brother?
In negatives, say didn't/did not use to ... : He didn't use to smoke. You can also say never used to : They never used to ask where I'd been. In formal British English you can also say used not to : Buses used not to stop here.
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Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • used to — used to1 [ just tu ] modal verb *** Used to is usually followed by an infinitive: We used to swim in the river. But sometimes the following infinitive is left out: I don t play golf now, but I used to. Used to only exists as a past tense.… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Used — may refer to:*Used good, goods of any type that have been used before *Used (Huesca), a village in Huesca, Aragon, Spain *Used, Zaragoza, a town in Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain *Used (song), a song by Rocket from the Crypt from their 1995 album Scream …   Wikipedia

  • used — [juːzd] adjective used car/​clothes etc cars, clothes etc that have had one or more previous owners; = pre owned AmE; SECOND HAND * * * used UK US /juːzd/ adjective ► COMMERCE used goods, cars, etc. have belonged to someone else and are not new… …   Financial and business terms

  • used — [ juzd ] adjective *** 1. ) owned by someone else before you: SECOND HAND: a used car salesman 2. ) no longer completely clean because of having been used: a used towel …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • used — (adj.) second hand, 1590s, pp. adjective from USE (Cf. use) (v.). To be used to “accustomed, familiar” is recorded by 1520s. Verbal phrase used to formerly did or was (as in I used to love her) represents a construction attested from c.1300,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • used to — (something/doing something) familiar with something. He s used to beginning without me because I m almost always late. His clothes and manners show he s used to being a celebrity. It s not easy getting used to cold weather if you ve been brought… …   New idioms dictionary

  • used-up — used upˈ adjective Exhausted • • • Main Entry: ↑use * * * used up «YOOZD UHP», adjective. 1. Informal. thoroughly exhausted by physical exertion; tired out. 2. worn out or made useless, as by hard work, age, or dissipation: »[He] is by now a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • used\ to\ be — • used to be • did use to be v. phr. Formerly or once was. Mary used to be small; but she has grown up. Dick used to be the best pitcher on the team last year; now two other pitchers are better than he is …   Словарь американских идиом

  • used to — (do something) to have done something in the past. A young lady who used to work in my office had seven brothers! We used to visit our parents at Christmas every year …   New idioms dictionary

  • used — ► ADJECTIVE 1) having already been used. 2) second hand …   English terms dictionary

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