The phrase 'used to' is very useful when talking about the past. We use 'used to' to talk about things that happened regularly or routinely in the past. These sentences are formed using:
subject + 'used to' + present verb
We often use this phrase to talk about things that happened before but no longer happen today.
Subject | used to | Verb | |
---|---|---|---|
I, You, He, She, It, We, You, They |
used to | play | piano every day, but I haven't practiced in years. |
Usually, we use the phrase 'used to' to make a comparison between the past and the present.
Here are some sentences using the phrase 'used to.'
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/6/2-6g1.jpg)
I used to be much faster, but I can still play hockey!
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/6/2-6g2.jpg)
I love broccoli now, but I used to hate it!
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/6/2-6g3.jpg)
My sisters and I used to play basketball with the
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/6/2-6g4.jpg)
Blueberries used to grow here, but Brett ate them all.
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/6/2-6g5.jpg)
She used to have long hair, but she cut it off.
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/6/2-6g6.jpg)
This wall used to be black, but then we painted it.