Used to (I used to do) в английском языке

Study this example situation:

	This is Dennis. He gave up smoking two years ago. He no longer smokes. But he used to smoke. He used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day. He used to smoke means that he smoked regularly for some time in the past, but he doesn't smoke now:

We use used to with the base form (used to do/used to smoke, etc.) to say that something happened regularly in the past but no longer happens:

• I used to play tennis a lot, but now Fm too lazy.


• "Do you go to the movies very often?" "Not now, but I used to."


• Sue used to travel a lot. These days she doesn't go away very often.

We also use used to for past situations (that no longer exist):

• We used to live in a small village, but now we live in Milan.


• This building is now a furniture store. It used to be a movie theater.


• Do you see that hill over there? There used to be a castle on that hill.


• I've started drinking tea lately. I never used to like it before.


• Ann used to have long hair, but she cut it some time ago.

Used to + base form is always past. There is no present. You cannot say "I use to do."
For the present, use the simple present (I do). Compare the present and past:

past	he used	to smoke	we used to live		there used to be

present	he smokes		we live			there is

The normal question form is did ... use to ... ?:

• Did you use to eat a lot of candy when you were a child?

The negative form is didn't use to ... (or never used to)

• Jim didn't use to go out very often until he met Jill. (or never used to go out)

Be careful not to confuse I used to do and I am used to doing. The structures and meanings are different:

• I used to live alone. (= I lived alone but I no longer live alone.)


• I am used to living alone. ( = I live alone and don't find it strange or new because I've been living alone for some time.)