Used to: form
Used to is the same for every subject and is followed by the base verb. In negatives and questions, did carries the past, so the standard spelling is use to without d.
"Didn't used to" is very common, especially in speech, but most style guides treat it as an error in writing. "Used not to" is correct but formal and old-fashioned.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | used to + base verb | He used to smoke. |
| Negative | did not (didn't) use to + base verb | He didn't use to smoke. |
| Question | Did + subject + use to + base verb? | Did he use to smoke? |
When to use it
Past habits that have stopped: "We used to go to my grandmother's village every summer."
Past states that have changed: "There used to be a cinema here." "I used to have long hair."
Used to doesn't say how many times or how long. With a specific number or period, use the past simple: "I went there three times", not "I used to go there three times".
Would can also describe repeated past actions, often in stories: "Every evening, my father would read to us." Would is not used for past states: say "I used to have a bike", not "I would have a bike".
Used to, be used to and get used to
These look similar but mean different things. In be used to and get used to, to is a preposition, so it is followed by a noun or an -ing form.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| used to + base verb | A past habit or state, not true now | I used to wake up at 5 a.m. |
| be used to + noun or -ing | Be accustomed to something | I am used to waking up early. |
| get used to + noun or -ing | Become accustomed to something | I'm getting used to the cold weather. |
| Present habit | Use the present simple, not use to | I usually wake up at 6. |
Common mistakes
Wrong: I use to go for a walk every morning.
Right: I usually go for a walk every morning.
Used to has no present form; use the present simple for present habits.
Wrong: I am used to drive on the left.
Right: I am used to driving on the left.
After be used to, use the -ing form.
Wrong: Did you used to live in Bengaluru?
Right: Did you use to live in Bengaluru?
After did, the standard spelling is use to.
Wrong: When I was a child, I would have a dog.
Right: When I was a child, I used to have a dog.
Would is not used for past states such as having or being.
Using this in IELTS and PTE
Used to is one of the most useful forms in IELTS Speaking, because examiners often ask you to compare the past and the present: "Did you use to play outdoors as a child?" In Part 3 it helps you discuss change in society ("People used to write letters; now they send messages"). It can also appear in IELTS Writing Task 2 or PTE Write Essay when you contrast past and present.
5 questions
Exercise
Try each one, then open it to check your answer.
1. Complete this: "There ___ (be) a lake here, but they filled it in."
used to be
It is a past state that is no longer true.
2. Make this negative: "She used to eat meat."
She didn't use to eat meat.
After didn't, the standard spelling is use to.
3. Choose: "I'm not used to (work / working) at night."
working
Be used to is followed by the -ing form.
4. Choose: "When we were kids, we (would / used to) live in a small flat."
used to
Live describes a past state, and would can't be used for states.
5. Correct this: "Now I use to study for two hours a day."
Now I usually study for two hours a day.
For present habits, use the present simple.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between used to and be used to?+
Used to + base verb is a past habit that has stopped ("I used to swim"). Be used to + -ing means be accustomed to ("I'm used to swimming in cold water").
Is it didn't use to or didn't used to?+
Didn't use to is the standard written form, because did already shows the past. Didn't used to is common in speech and some writers accept it, but use didn't use to in exams.
Can I say "I use to" for the present?+
No. Used to only refers to the past. For present habits, use the present simple with a word such as usually: "I usually get up at seven."
What is the difference between used to and would?+
Both can describe repeated past actions. Only used to can describe past states, such as being, having, living or liking.
Keep going
More grammar lessons
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy