O used to is an English expression used to talk about regular actions in the past that don't happen anymore. The translation of this expression is “to get used to” in the past.
Example:
I used to play the guitar. (I used to play guitar)
In the example above, we can see that the phrase indicates that this person played guitar in the past, but no longer plays.
Rules
Check below the rules of used to for affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences
Affirmative Form: subject + used to + main verb + complement
Example: I used to work. (I used to work)
Negative (Negative Form): subject + did not use to + main verb + complement
Example: I did not use to work. (I didn't used to work)
Note: In negative sentences the did + not contraction can be used: didn’t.
Interrogative Form: did + subject + use to + main verb + complement
Example: Did I use to work? (I used to work?)
It is important to note that, unlike the affirmative, the negative and interrogative forms, the expression used is "use to", that is, the
used comes without the "d". This is because the auxiliary verb “did” is already in the past tense.| Affirmative | negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| I used to | I didn’t use to | Did I use to? |
| you used to | you didn’t use to | Did you use it? |
| he used to | He didn’t use to | Did he use it? |
| she used to | She didn’t use to | Did she use to? |
| It used to | It didn’t use to | Did it use to? |
| we used to | we didn’t use to | Did we use to? |
| you used to | you didn’t use to | Did you use it? |
| they used to | they didn’t use to | Did they use to? |
be used to
The expression "be used to" is used to indicate that someone is used to doing something.
Even though it's similar to the used to, when we use the verb to be the translation goes from "used" to "be accustomed to".
To better understand, let's see two examples below:
I am used to riding a bike. (I'm used to riding a bike)
I used to ride a bike. (I used to ride a bicycle)
Note that the first example references the present. The second, to the past. Furthermore, we can notice the difference in sentence structures. That is, with the be used to, we use the verb with the -ing (be used to + verb with -ing).
Get used to
The expression "get used to" is used to indicate that the subject is used to doing something. Its translation is "get used to".
Example:
You will get used to riding a bike. (You will get used to riding a bike).
In the same way as "be used to", the verb appears with -ing, sI understand your training: get used to + verb with -ing.
Exercises
1. (ITA) She _________ up late in the morning.
a) was used to get
b) used to getting
c) is used to getting
d) is used to get
e) used to got
Alternative c: is used to getting
2. (Enem-2010)
live life
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning and I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand [...]
MARTIN, C. Live the life, Coldplay. In: Viva la vida or Death and all his friends. Parlophone, 2008.
Song lyrics address themes that, in a way, can be reinforced by the repetition of excerpts or words. The fragment of the song Viva la vida, for example, allows knowing the account of someone who
a) he used to have the world at his feet and suddenly found himself with nothing.
b) aspires to the title of king and, for it, has faced countless enemies.
c) causes little fear to his enemies, although he has a lot of power.
d) cleaned the streets and, with his effort, became king of his people.
e) had the key to all the castles he wanted to live in.
Alternative to: You used to have the world at your feet and suddenly found yourself with nothing.
