B1 Intermediate Perfect and past tenses

used to and would

Lesson goal. After this lesson you can describe past habits that have stopped with used to, without confusing it with be used to.

When to use it

Type	Pattern	Example
Affirmative	S + used to + base verb	I used to live in Hue.
Negative	S + didn't use to + verb	I didn't use to like coffee.
Question	Did + S + use to + verb?	Did you use to play tennis?
A completely different structure	be used to + V-ing = be accustomed to	I am used to getting up early.

Ask: is this a past habit or state that no longer happens?
Yes → use used to + base verb.
In negatives and questions did carries the past, so write use to without the d.
If you mean be accustomed to, you need be used to + V-ing — a different structure.

Structure	Example
used to + V	I used to smoke.
be used to + V-ing	I'm used to working at night.
get used to + V-ing	I'm getting used to the noise.
would + V	Every summer we would go to the beach.

I used to play football every day.

There used to be a cinema here.

She didn't use to like vegetables.

Did you use to live in the countryside?

I'm used to getting up at five now.

Every summer we would go swimming in the river.

I didn't used to like coffee. → I didn't use to like coffee.

did already carries the past, so drop the d from used. Same rule as didn't go.

I used to living here. → I used to live here.

used to takes the base verb. Only be used to takes V-ing.

I am used to get up early. → I am used to getting up early.

In be used to, the to is a preposition, so a V-ing must follow.

Look at what comes before used. Nothing → a past habit (used to play). A form of be → being accustomed (am used to playing).

Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.