We use “I used to + verb” to talk about past habits or situations that are not true now. It helps you explain how your life was different before.
For example, you can talk about old routines, childhood habits, or past jobs.
In daily speaking, this structure is very common. You may use it while chatting with friends, talking about school life, old jobs, or previous lifestyles.
“I used to” always talks about the past, not the present.
Example:
“I used to wake up late.”
(This means now you do NOT wake up late.)
This structure makes your English sound more natural and confident when you talk about your past.
◎ Important Points
- Use used to + base verb
- It talks about past habits or situations
- It shows something is not true now
- Do not use present tense after “used to”
- Common in daily conversation
- Works with all subjects (I, you, we, they)
➤Key Concept
Sentence Structure:
Subject + used to + base verb
Example:
“I used to play cricket every evening.”
Explanation:
This sentence means you played cricket in the past, but you don’t do it now.
Speaking Tip:
Say “used to” smoothly like yoos-ta when speaking fast.
➤ Common Mistakes To Avoid
| Common Mistake | Wrong Example | Correct Example |
|---|---|---|
| Using present verb | I used to plays football. | I used to play football. |
| Using present tense | I use to wake up early. | I used to wake up early. |
| Using past verb | She used to went school by bus. | She used to go to school by bus. |
| Mixing present meaning | I used to live here now. | I used to live here before. |
| Wrong negative form | I didn’t used to smoke. | I didn’t use to smoke. |
➤ Examples
- I used to drink tea every morning.
- She used to work in a bank.
- We used to live near the beach.
- He used to watch TV late at night.
- I used to be very shy in school.
- They used to travel by bus.
- My father used to wake up at 5 a.m.
- I used to play video games after dinner.
- She used to study late at night.
➤ Practice Examples
A. Fill in the blanks
- I ________ (used to / use to) eat junk food.
- She used to ________ (walk / walked) to office.
- We used to ________ up early.
B. Correct the sentence
- He used to played cricket.
- I use to live in Delhi.
C. Speak aloud
- “I used to wake up late, but now I wake up early.”
- “I used to feel nervous while speaking English.”
D. Self Practice
Say 3 sentences about your past habits using I used to.
