Im used to examples. We talk about the past. USED ​​TO and WOULD. Special questions c used to

For those who study English, it can be difficult to master the “used to, be / get used to” rule. Many people simply confuse similar-sounding constructions. To use these phrases correctly, you need to understand what they mean.

past habits

Expression usedto denotes actions that often happened in the past, but no longer occur now. Usually the construction is translated as "before", "once".

I used to go for a walk every morning. unfortunately,Ihavenotimenow. - I used to go for a walk every morning. Unfortunately, I don't have time for that right now.

He used to be a shop assistant. Nowisamillionaire. - Once he was a salesman, and now he is a millionaire.

In this case, we are only talking about past habits, so the verb cannot be used in the present tense. In other words, you can't say "use to". The rules of use require the verb to be put in the Past Simple. If you need to talk about the habits that exist at the moment, use the Present Simple.

I used to eat bananas for breakfast. - BeforeIateon thebreakfastbananas.

Iusuallyeatbananasforbreakfast. I usually eat bananas for breakfast.

Please note: after the particle to is always infinitive. Other forms of the verb are not allowed here.

My sister used to be a naughty child. - Mysisterwasnaughtychild.

Let's continue with the rule. usedto used not only in affirmative sentences. We can safely construct a negative or interrogative sentence.

In the question, the first place is given did, followed by the subject and use to. The past tense is taken over by the auxiliary verb, so the initial form should be used useto.

Didsheusetowakeupearlywhenshewenttoschool? Did she have a habit of getting up early when she went to school?

Did they use to spend vacation together? - Beforetheycarried outtogethervacation?

In negative sentences, a particle is added to the auxiliary verb not, a useto also put in the initial form.

I didn't use to smoke when I was a schoolboy. - Inotsmoked, whenwentinschool.

Shedidn'ttusetoplaygolf. She hasn't played golf before.

Used to or would?

When it comes to past habits, sometimes another expression is used - would.

Kate would go to a swimming pool once a week. - BeforeKatewentinswimming poolonceinweek.

Remember the important rule: usedto can indicate both an action and a state.

Action: Myparentsdidn'ttusetogotoagym. - My parents never went to the gym before.

State: John didn'tusetoloveRockmusic. - Once upon a time, John did not like rock music.

Would indicates only a repeated action in the past. It is not used to describe a state.

My friend used to go shopping every weekend. Myfriendwouldgoshoppingeveryweekend. My friend used to go shopping every weekend.

But you can't say: John would love rock music. This proposal should use usedto.

Would can also describe actions that happened from time to time (often with an element of nostalgia). A good translation in this case is the word "used."

InmychildhoodIwouldgoforapicnicalmosteveryweekend. - As a child, I used to go to a picnic almost every weekend.

If you don't specify the regularity of the action, use usedto, not would.

Whenhewasachildheusedtowakeuplate. - He woke up late when he was a child (general, no regularity indicated).

Whenhewasachild,hewouldwakeuplateatweekends. - When he was a child, he woke up late on weekends (it is indicated how often the action was performed).

have a habit of doing something

Let's look at another rule. used to often confused with to be used to. However, they have completely different meanings. Expression tobeusedto means "to have the habit of doing something", and it can be replaced by a synonymous construction tobeaccustomedto. Previously, a person did not do this, but now his way of life has changed.

Heisusedtogettingupat 9am. - He used to get up at 9 am (he didn't do that before).

Since we are talking about a habit that a person has at the moment, the verb tobe logical to put in the present tense. For past habits, use the expression we already know usedto/didn"t use to. Compare:

My brother didn't use to eat healthy food. - Mybrotherbeforenotateusefulfood.

Now he is used to eating healthy food. - Nowheused tothere isusefulfood.

Don't forget to put a particle to- there is no expression useddoing. The rule also requires the use of the gerund, not the infinitive.

Jesse is used to making his bed in the morning. - Jessieused tocoverbedonin the morning.

I am used to go to school on my foot. - Iused towalkinschoolon foot.

get used to something

Phrase togetusedto very close in value to the previous design. But there is a certain shade of meaning - “to get used to”, “to master”, “to adapt”. In this case, the synonymic construction would be tobecomeaccustomedto.

It is difficult to get used to a new climate. - TOnewclimatedifficultadapt.

Here we are talking about a habit that is just beginning to form.

He is getting used to doing the laundry twice a week. - Heaccustomsmyselfwashclothestwiceperweek.

After the particle to you should also put a gerund.

TheyaregettingusedtospeakingChinese. They are getting used to speaking Chinese.

What grammatical tense should be used getusedto? The rule allows you to use any tense that makes sense.

Ittookhersometimetogetusedtonewtraditions. - It took some time before she got used to the new traditions.

In a few weeks you will get used to the local cuisine. - Throughcoupleweeksyouget used totolocalkitchen.

Exercises

We have discussed in detail the use usedto/beusedto/getusedto. The rule separates these constructions in meaning and grammatically. Practice using them in practice. Insert the appropriate words into the text. Be sure to select the correct time.

1. Jane -- smoke a lot. Then she quit it. Jen used to smoke a lot. But then she quit smoking.
2. I see you -_ new rules. Keep it up! I see you are getting used to the new rules. Keep it up!
3. How long did it take him to _ living in the suburbs? How long did it take him to get used to life in the suburbs?
4. You_be very hardworking. You have become a lazybones! - You were so hardworking. You have become lazy!
5. We _ ​​speaking two languages. We are used to speaking two languages.
6. He _ coming in time. He taught himself to be on time.
7. I _ drinking tea. Coffee is bad for my health. - I've got into the habit of drinking tea. Coffee is bad for me.
8. Why don't you _ putting fewer spices in your food. I can't eat it! - Why don't you train yourself to put less spices in your food! I can't eat it!
9. I _ sweeping the floor every day. - I used to sweep the floor every day.
10. I_his pronunciation. Does anyone understand what he says? - I can't get used to his pronunciation. Does anyone even understand what he's saying?
11. Monika _ be a doctor, but she has already retired. Monika used to be a doctor. But she is already retired.
12. We _ ​​be friends. Then something went wrong. - We were friends. But then something went wrong.

In English, the simple past tense () can be conveyed not only using the corresponding ones, but also using the construction used to + indefinite form of the verb.

This turnover describes regular actions or individual events that were in the past, but then stopped. The construction has the same meaning as any other used in the simple past tense. Turnover is used very often both in colloquial and in literary speech.

In the construction structure of the verb use loses its basic meaning (to use) and is translated by the word "before". And what happened before is reported by the semantic verb used in the form of the infinitive.

For example:

• They used to be friends. They used to be friends (but not now);
• It used to be my house. It used to be my house (but not now).

Education Formula

With turnover used to + Infinitive can be used in affirmative, interrogative and negative forms.

Consider in detail the formula for the formation of each of them:

Here are some examples:

• Affirmative form:
  He used to play hockey when he was at school. - Before, when he was a schoolboy, he played hockey.
• :
  He did not use to play hockey when he was at school. When he was a schoolboy, he didn't play hockey.
• :
  Did he use to play hockey when he was at school? Did he play hockey when he was a schoolboy?

Note: The used to construction cannot be used to convey actions that take place in the present and future tenses.

When to use?

There are two main cases in which the used to do construction + infinitive is justified:

Turnaround Variations used to

The construction has two varieties that can be misleading to an English learner. It's all about the similarity of the three revolutions.

So, in English speech, in addition to the turnover used to, they also use:

• to be used to;
• to get used to.

There are several differences between the three designs:

1. turnover used to is used only to convey actions that occur in the past tense, and its variations can convey actions taking place both in the present and in the future tense. It is important that we are talking about those phenomena or events that have become familiar.
   For comparison:
   He used to play with Olga. – He used to play with Olga (BUT he doesn’t play anymore).
   He was used to play with Olga./ He gets used to playing with Olga. - He is used to playing with Olga (And now he is playing).
2. when using the construction used to put semantic. The phrases be used to and get used to require the use of a noun or after them.
   For example:
   Mike used to fly in London. Mike used to fly to London (BUT he doesn't fly now).
   Mike is used to flying in London. / Mike gets used to flying to London. Mike is used to flying to London (And now he flies).

In addition, the design used to + Infinitive can be replaced with a verb . However, when using this verb, you should pay attention to the fact that the subsequent semantic verb must denote a movement or state.

For example:

He would run a lot. “He used to run a lot.

Let's summarize what we've learned so far:

1. Turnover used to + Infinitive used to convey actions or individual events that took place in the past, but have ceased;
2. The structure can be used in affirmative, negative or interrogative form;
3. The turnover used to + Infinitive has two varieties be used to + ing / get used to + ing, which are used to convey actions occurring in the present and future tenses.

The path of the English language throughout history has always been thorny.

Since the reign of the British Empire, it has become widespread and has become available for development by ordinary people in many countries.

Now English has its own structured learning system, like any other language of civilized countries. And always along with the rules there are exceptions that give the language a certain flexibility.

One of these exceptions will now be discussed.

Turnaround "Used to" as a verb (Verb)

This turnover indicates what happened regularly in the past, but does not happen now. For example, it could be some habits, states, or repetitive routine actions:

• I used to train every day when I was in the team - I trained every day when I was on the team. (I had a habit)
• She used to live in Manchester - She used to live in Manchester. (condition)
• Every day she used to say him, "Good morning, my dear" - Every day she told him: " Good morning, dear". (routine action)

Turnaround "Used to" as an adjective (Adjective)

In its own way, used to can act as an adjective and literally translate as “used to”:

• His neighbors made noise every weekend. But he's used to it - His neighbors were noisy every weekend. But he's used to it.
• They lived nightlife and are used to it - They lived the nightlife and got used to it.

Turnaround "Used to" in negative and interrogative forms

Obviously, I want to say that often when compiling such forms, English speakers use the simple Past Simple, without the “used to” turnover. But at the same time, offers sometimes slip through with this turnover.

The negative form (Negative) is formed in 2 ways:

1. Using the auxiliary verb did and the particle not:

didn't + use to + infinitive

• He didn't use to like me, but then he changed his mind - He didn't like me, but then he changed his mind
• I'm surprised that they joined the hockey club. I remembered they didn't use to like hockey - I'm surprised they joined the hockey club. I remember they didn't like hockey.

In most cases, we can use never instead of didn't:

• He didn't use to work so much
• He never used to work so much

2. With the verb to be and the particle not:

to be + not + used to

• He's not used to the new order - He's not used to new orders.
• I'm not used to her - I'm not used to her.

Interrogative form (Question).

Did + subject + use to + infinitive … ?

• Did you use to travel a lot before you get this job? - (Have you ever travelled?)
• Did you use to spend hours in front of the mirror when you were young?

Also "used to" can always be combined with special questions:

• Where did he use to spend time at nights? Where does he like to spend his time at night?
• What did you use to relax when you were a teenager? How did you usually relax when you were a teenager?

"Used to" and "would"

In some cases, we can replace used to with would if we are talking exclusively about habits:

• I used to get up early when I've worked in the police
• I would get up early when I've worked in the police

"Get used to"

A similar turnover shows the process of getting used to something and can be used at any time:

• We got used to live here yet - We are already used to living here
• Well I am getting used to tropical climate - Well, I'm already getting used to the tropical climate
• I think that I will get used to new homeland - I think I'll get used to the new home

"Be used to + gerund"

Unlike “used to + verb”, which indicated habits that were acquired in the past and remained there, this turnover indicates habits that were acquired in the past and are active now:

• I'm used to working at night. (I used to work at night)
• I used to work at night. (I used to work at night, but now I don't work)

In conclusion, I would like to mention one nuance. Sometimes people seem to say "use to" instead of "used to". This is all due to the fact that when used to is said, the extreme “d” is pronounced like t, and the next word “to” begins with the same sound. Therefore, it is heard as one t. When speaking, we often pronounce words quickly, which is why they stick together.

We also recommend watching this short video tutorial from our friend James

The Used to construction is very common in English. Its peculiarity is that it is always in the past tense, that is, in the Past Simple, because of this it is virtually impossible to make a mistake in its conjugation.

In addition, the Used to construction does not mean “use”, but repetitive actions, moreover, in the past. Today we will analyze this turn on the shelves, find out where and under what conditions it can be used in speech.

To begin with, pay attention to examples of some sentences with this turnover:

• She usedtobe shy. - She used to be shy (Used to be shy).
• Tom used to - Tom used to smoke
• Mary used to help her granny when she visited her. Maryused toto helphisgrandmother, whenvisitedher.

The translation of this construction in sentences is based more on intuition than accuracy. Agree, Used to in these sentences can be translated as “used to, often happened, it often happened”, etc. And all because this construction means habitual recurring events in the past, but which no longer have a place to be in the present.

That is, we will translate these phrases: She used to be timid (but not now). Tom used to smoke (not anymore).

If she was still shy when talking about these sentences, or if Tom still smokes, then Used to is no longer appropriate. Also, it will not work if the action happened only once - Tom smoked once. So, Used to is used only in events that were repeated in the past, but which no longer exist.

Let's recap!

Let's summarize our rule and draw a conclusion.

The Used to construction is used when we are talking about actions that were repeated many times in the past, but now these actions are no longer there.

The Used to construct is not used if the action is still in progress; if the action was one-time.

This turnover has three forms of formation: affirmative, negative and interrogative:

• Tomusedtosmoke. Tom used to smoke (Tom used to smoke)
• Tomdidn't"tusetosmoke. Tom was not in the habit of smoking.
• DidTomusetosmoke? Did Tom have a habit of smoking before?

There are three main points to pay attention to:

• The Used to construct does not change for persons and numbers.
• Used to has no present or future tense, only recurring events in the past that no longer occur in the present.
• This structure uses needles for actions and verbs for states.

The Used to construction can be replaced by Would + infinitive, but this structure is only used with action verbs. For example:

• I would visit my aunt every morning = I used to visit my aunt every morning. - BeforeIvisitedmyaunteachmorning.

State verbs cannot be used in this meaning: I would be shy. You can only: I used to be shy. (be is a state verb).

There are some turns that differ from Used to, but they are often confused:

The construction Be used to means "to have the habit of doing something, to be accustomed to doing something." This construction is also used only in the past tense Past Simple:

• My sister is used to getting up early. - Mysisterused toget upearly.
• He is used to do his homework after school. - Heused todohomejob after school.
• We are used to come on time. - Weused tocomein time.

The Get used to construction is getting used to something, getting used to doing something, gradually getting used to it. This turnover is used in different tenses:

• The present: Tom is getting used to traveling on his own. (Tom gets usedtravelone).
• Past: My grandparents got used to living there.(My grandparents used to live there).Did you get used to eating Japanese food? (Youused tothere isJapanesefood?)
• Future: He will have to get used toworking every day, without weekends.(He will have to get used to working every day, seven days a week).

Let's summarize where and what constructions we use:

• Construction Used to do smth - habitual actions in the past that no longer occur (or would + infinitive (only with action verbs).
• Turnover Be used to doing smth - to have the habit of doing something.
• Construction Get used to doing smth - Get used to it.

You see, friends - nothing complicated! Good luck to you!

Turnovers used to do and be used to do can often be heard in the speech of the heroes of films or TV shows, as well as read in the text of a book or article. These constructions are constantly used by native speakers. English learners often confuse these expressions as they sound almost the same. Therefore, in the article we will clearly demonstrate the difference between the designs used to do and be used to do.

used to do. It used to be different!

We use used to do when we talk about old habits, states and repetitive actions that were in the past. All these habits and states are gone now. Therefore, this expression can only be used in the past tense − used to. into Russian used to It is usually translated as a verb in the past tense. Sometimes the word "before" is added to the translation to emphasize that it is no longer so.

I used to eat a lot of chocolate but now I am on a diet. - Before I ate a lot of chocolate, but now I'm on a diet. (habit in the past)

When I worked as a postman, I used to get up early. When I worked as a postman, I got up early in the morning. (regular action in the past)

She used to be very busy but now she is retired. - Before she is was very busy, but now she is retired. (condition)

Expression used to do something is usually used in affirmative sentences, but you can also find it in a negative or a question. There is one feature in negative sentences: an auxiliary verb and a particle ( did not) in most cases are replaced by the word never(never). In the table you will see how sentences are built with the construction used to do.

He used to live alone. - Before he lived one.

I did not use to like him but now I do. - He told me didn't like it before but now I like it.

I never used to watch TV. - I never looked television before.

Did you use to live in London? - You used to live in London?

Remember that the expression used to do applies only to the past tense. If you want to talk about habits and regular activities in the present, use tense.

Expression used to do There are several analogues: and. True, with would there is one caveat. Would shows only regular actions and habits in the past, we cannot use this verb to describe a state.

When I was young, I used to play / would play / played with dolls. - When I was little, I played with dolls.

I used to/ would live near Hyde Park. - I used to live near Hyde Park.

Be used to do. Already used to

Expression be used to do means we are used to something. For us, this is no longer a novelty, not unusual, not strange. This construction is translated into Russian by the word "get used to it." Synonymous be used to do is the expression be accustomed to.

I found Vietnamese cuisine quite strange at first but now I am used to it. = I found Vietnamese cuisine quite strange at first but now I am accustomed to it. - At first, Vietnamese cuisine seemed rather strange to me, but now I used to To her.

He was not used to take an umbrella every morning when he moved to London. = He was not accustomed to taking an umbrella every morning when he moved to London. - He not used to taking take an umbrella with you every morning when you move to London.

Unlike used to, be used to can be used in the present, past and future tenses. To do this, you need to change the form of the verb to be. Because there is a verb to be, then we do not need an auxiliary verb do (did).

He is used to stay away from home. - He used to being far from home.

Are they used to the cold weather? - They are used to for cold weather?

I am not used to him and his behaviour. - I not used to to him and his behaviour.

He was not used to drive on the left side of the road. - To him it was weird to drive on the left side of the road.

Beyond Expression be used to, there is another option - get used to. Be used to shows an action that has already been completed, that is, we are either used to it or not. Get used to demonstrates the process of habituation, that is, now a person is trying to master what is new or unusual for him.

She started working at nights and is still getting used to sleeping during the day. She started working at night and still getting used to sleep afternoon.

She had to get used to living in a smaller house. - She had to get used to living in a smaller house.

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The expressions used to do and be used to doing in English