Understanding “Use to” and “Used to” in English

Understanding “Use to” and “Used to” in English

Understanding “Use to” and “Used to”

Learning English can sometimes be tricky, but understanding the difference between “use to” and “used to” is important. These words may look alike, but they are used in different ways. Let’s learn more about them together.

History of the Words

The phrase “used to” has been around for a long time. It comes from older English where it was part of a phrase meaning “accustomed to.” Over time, it changed a little and now we use “used to” to talk about things that happened in the past but do not happen anymore. “Use to” looks a lot like “used to,” but “use to” is mostly seen in negative sentences or questions.

How to Use “Used to”

Use “used to” when talking about something that was true in the past but is not true now. It can tell about habits or regular events that are no longer happening.

Examples:

• I used to play soccer every Saturday.
• She used to live in Spain.
• They used to eat at this restaurant a lot.
• We used to go camping every summer.
• He used to have long hair.

How to Use “Use to”

The phrase “use to” often appears in negative sentences or questions where the word “did” is used. We don’t change “use” to “used” because “did” shows the past tense already.

Examples:

• Did you use to go to that school?
• We did not use to watch TV much.
• Did she use to have a pet?
• They did not use to like vegetables.
• Did he use to play basketball?

Trick to Remember the Difference

A good trick to remember is “used to” when talking about past habits, and use “use to” with “did” for questions or negatives. Think about how “did” changes verbs to the past, so you don’t need “used” again.

Summary of Usage

• “Used to”: Use it to talk about past habits or actions that don’t happen now. Example: “I used to go there.”
• “Use to”: Appears in questions or negatives with “did.” Example: “Did you use to go there?”

Now you have learned the difference! Remember to practice, and soon it will be easy for you.