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\ 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

  • used — [yo͞ozd ]: see note at use vt., vi. pt. & pp. of USE adj. 1. that has been used 2. SECONDHAND …   English World dictionary

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