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

* * *

◊ '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.

\

The use of something is the act of using it.

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

\

◊ '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.

\

◊ '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.

\

◊ 'used to' in negative structures

Used to is not common in negative structures.

\

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.

\

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.

\

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.

\

Note that in standard English you do not say that something `usedn't to' happen or be the case.

\

◊ '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?

\

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?

\

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?

\

◊ familiarity

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.

\

For more information about this use, see entry at ↑ accustomed to.

\

* * *

I

/ˈjuːstə/ adj

: familiar with something so that it seems normal or usual

I'm not used to driving this car yet.

He is used to criticism. = He is used to being criticized.

The dog will need a few days to become used to its new home.

I've been out of school for so long that I'm not used to studying anymore.

She quickly got used to the warm weather.

———————— II

verb [modal verb]

— used to say that something existed or repeatedly happened in the past but does not exist or happen now

We used to go out more often. [=in the past we went out more often]

He never used to smoke. [=he never smoked in the past]

My grandmother said winters used to be harder here.

(Brit, old-fashioned) You used not to smoke, did you?

usage

Used to is usually used in the form use to when it occurs with did.

Did you use to work there? [=did you work there in the past?]

It didn't use to be like that.

He didn't use to smoke.

* * *

used to [used to] [ˈjuːst tə] [ˈjuːst tə] before vowels and finally [ˈjuːst tu] [ˈjuːst tu] modal verb (negative didn't use to [dɪdnt ˈjuːs tə] ; [dɪdnt ˈjuːs tə] before vowels and finally [dɪdnt ˈjuːs tu] ; [dɪdnt ˈjuːs tu] (BrE also, old-fashioned or formal used not to short form usedn't to [ˈjuːsnt tə] ; [ˈjuːsnt tə] before vowels and finally [ˈjuːsnt tu] ; [ˈjuːsnt tu] )

used to say that sth happened continuously or frequently during a period in the past

•

I used to live in London.

•

We used to go sailing on the lake in summer.

•

I didn't use to like him much when we were at school.

•

You used to see a lot of her, didn't you?

 

Grammar Point:

modal verbs

The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will and would. Dare, need, have to and used to also share some of the features of modal verbs.

Modal verbs have only one form. They have no -ing or -ed forms and do not add -s to the 3rd person singular form:

▪ He can speak three languages.

◇

▪ She will try and visit tomorrow.

Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to. The exceptions are ought to and used to:

▪ You must find a job.

◇

▪ You ought to stop smoking.

◇

▪ I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago.

Questions are formed without do/does in the present, or did in the past:

▪ Can I invite Mary?

◇

▪ Should I have invited Mary?

Negative sentences are formed with not or the short form -n’t and do not use do/does or did.

You will find more help with how to use modal verbs at the dictionary entries for each verb.

 

Grammar Point:

used to

Except in negatives and questions, the correct form is used to:

▪ I used to go there every Saturday.

◇ I use to go there every Saturday.

To form questions, use did:

▪ Did she use to have long hair?

Note that the correct spelling is use to, not ‘used to’.

The negative form is usually didn’t use to, but in BrE this is quite informal and is not usually used in writing.

The negative form used not to (rather formal) and the question form used you to…? (old-fashioned and very formal) are only used in BrE, usually in writing.

 

Which Word?:

used to / be used to

Do not confuse used to do sth with be used to sth.

You use used to do sth to talk about something that happened regularly or was the case in the past, but is not now:

▪ I used to smoke, but I gave up a couple of years ago.

You use be used to sth/to doing sth to talk about something that you are familiar with so that it no longer seems new or strange to you:

▪ We’re used to the noise from the traffic now.

◇

▪ I’m used to getting up early.

You can also use get used to sth:

▪ Don’t worry — you’ll soon get used to his sense of humour.

◇

▪ I didn’t think I could ever get used to living in a big city after living in the country.