Learn how to use used to to speak about past events. Be careful, don’t confuse this lesson with to be used to (accustomed to), I will teach you that in a different lesson.
Let’s begin to study used to!

When do we use used to?
We can use used to when speaking about repeated or regular activities or habits in the past. Be careful, you cannot use the used to form when talking about an action that only occurred (happened) once or a few times.

Used To Form:
Statements:
Subject + USED TO + V1
Subject + DIDN’T USE TO + V1
Questions:
DID + Subject + USE TO + V1 ?
Used To Examples:
Where did you use to live? I used to live in Korea.
Did you use to smoke? No, I didn’t use to smoke.
Who did Pamela use to date? She used to date Tommy.
I used to go to the gym a lot, but I stopped when I had a baby.
Is used to the same as the simple past?
Sometimes we can use the simple past with the same meaning as when we use used to.
Compare the following examples:
Simple Past
Where DID you GO on vacation when you were a child?
I WENT to the mountains every summer.
Used To
Where DID you USE TO go on vacation when you were a child?
I USED TO GO to the mountains every summer.
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Used To vs Simple Past Exercises & Practice
Past Tense vs. Used to Write an APPROPRIATE ANSWER to each question.
- Did you use to ride an elephant to school?
____________________________________________________________________________.
- Where did you eat lunch yesterday?
____________________________________________________________________________.
- Where did you use to go on summer vacation when you were a child?
____________________________________________________________________________.
Well I hope this lesson helped you understand how to use used to to speak about the past. Stay posted for the lesson on be used to. These two points are often confused by students. Be careful, they are completely different.
If you still have some questions about used to, please ask me. I will answer you and can even prepare free English lesson for you.
Talk soon! #TurnYourLanguageOn
Free English lesson with exercises!