use - used - used to

use - used - used to
◊ 'use'
If you use something, you do something with it in order to achieve a particular result.

They used the money to buy foreign technology.

You can use a cheque.

It is better not to use a knife.

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The use of something is the act of using it.

...the dangers of the large-scale use of fertilisers and insecticides.

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◊ 'used'
Used can be used as an adjective in front of a noun. You use it to indicate that something has been owned by someone else, or is dirty as a result of being used before.

...a used glass on the coffee table.

...a used napkin.

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◊ 'used to'
If something used to happen, it happened regularly in the past. Similarly, if something used to be the case, it was the case in the past.

She used to tell me stories about people in India and Egypt.

I used to be told I looked quite handsome.

I used to be frightened sometimes.

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◊ 'used to' in negative structures
Used to is not common in negative structures.
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In conversation, you can say that something didn't used to happen or didn't used to be the case.

They didn't used to mind what we did.

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You can also say that something never used to happen or be the case.

Where I was before, we never used to have posters on the walls.

Snooker and darts never used to be televised sports.

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You can also say that something used not to happen or be the case. This is a fairly formal use.

It used not to be taxable, but now it will be subject to tax.

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Note that in standard English you do not say that something `usedn't to' happen or be the case.
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◊ 'used to' in questions
You form `yes/no'-questions with used to by putting `did' in front of the subject, followed by used to.

Did you used to play with your trains?

Didn't they used to mind?

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Used to can also be used in `wh'-questions. If the `wh'-word is the subject of the clause, or part of the subject, you put used to after it, without an auxiliary.

What used to annoy you most about him?

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If the `wh'-word is the object of the clause, or part of the object, you use the auxiliary `do' after it, followed by the subject and used to.

What did you used to do on Sundays?

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Used to has another meaning. If you are used to something, you have become familiar with it and you accept it.

Pilots are used to the mid-afternoon switch from one runway to another.

They are used to thinking of education as something in itself.

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For more information about this use, see entry at ↑ accustomed to.
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Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • use, used, used to — As a verb, use means to put into service, to make use of: He will use my car today. The principal parts of use are use, used, used: He used my car yesterday. He has used my car for a week. When did is added to the verb phrase, however, the word… …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • used-up — used upˈ adjective Exhausted • • • Main Entry: ↑use * * * used up «YOOZD UHP», adjective. 1. Informal. thoroughly exhausted by physical exertion; tired out. 2. worn out or made useless, as by hard work, age, or dissipation: »[He] is by now a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • used to — adjective in the habit (Freq. 13) I am used to hitchhiking you ll get used to the idea ...was wont to complain that this is a cold world Henry David Thoreau • Syn: ↑wont to • Similar to: ↑accustomed …   Useful english dictionary

  • use — I /ju:s/ n. 1) to make use of 2) to put smt. to (good) use 3) to find a use for 4) to lose; regain the use of (she lost the use of one arm) 5) to deny (the) use of (the visitors were denied use of the library) 6) constant; daily; emergency;… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • used to — W2S1 [ˈju:st tu:] modal v 1.) if something used to happen, it happened regularly or all the time in the past, but does not happen now ▪ He used to go to our school. ▪ We re eating out more often than we used to. did not use to do sth ▪ You didn t …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Use — Use, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Used}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Using}.] [OE. usen, F. user to use, use up, wear out, LL. usare to use, from L. uti, p. p. usus, to use, OL. oeti, oesus; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Utility}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To make use of; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Used — Use Use, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Used}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Using}.] [OE. usen, F. user to use, use up, wear out, LL. usare to use, from L. uti, p. p. usus, to use, OL. oeti, oesus; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Utility}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To make use of; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in the U.S. Department of Defense — is a 2003 report by The MITRE Corporation that documented widespread use of and reliance on free software (termed FOSS ) within the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The report helped end a debate about whether FOSS should be banned from …   Wikipedia

  • use — [yo͞oz; ] for n. [ yo͞os] vt. used [yo͞ozd; ] with [ “] to [, ] usually [ yo͞os′tə] using [ME usen < OFr user < VL * usare < L usus, pp. of uti, to use] 1. to put or bring into action or service; employ for or apply to a given purpose 2 …   English World dictionary

  • use — 1 / yüs/ n 1 a: an arrangement in which property is granted to another with the trust and confidence that the grantor or another is entitled to the beneficial enjoyment of it see also trust; statute of uses in the important laws section ◇ Uses… …   Law dictionary

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