Used to
Use used to for past habits and states that were true before but are not true now.
16 min read & practice· Past habits· B1 Level
Useful for:describe experiences and situationsexpress relationships between events and ideas
Curated for Cambridge C1 Advanced exam preparation.
Learning goal: Used to
Describe changed past routines and form negatives and questions with use to.
In a nutshell
Use used to for past habits and states that were true before but are not true now.
When do we use it?
Describe changed past routines and form negatives and questions with use to.
Pattern
Form
Use used to + base verb; after did or did not, write use to.
- I used to play outside.
- I didn't use to like coffee.
- Did you use to live here?
Examples
Key contrast
Read the whole context and identify the time, meaning, noun type or sentence structure before choosing.
Watch out
Common mistakes
I use to played.→ I used to play.I didn't used to.→ I didn't use to.
Key takeaway
Remember
Use used to for past habits and states that were true before but are not true now.
Self-check
Quick check
- Find the grammar clue.
- Check the subject and verb form.
- Confirm that the answer fits both structure and meaning.
Put it into practice
Ready to test Used to?
A short interactive practice session with instant feedback — about 10 questions calibrated to C1 Advanced.
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