There's a big difference between used to live – to talk about past habits or states and is used to doing – to talk about something that you are now familiar with.
For example, a common mistake is "I am used to study."
Do you mean that you used to study, but you don't study any more, or do you mean that you know about studying?
Avoid making mistakes by remembering the verb pattern.
Used to + verb describes a past habit or state.
For example:
He used to smoke, but he doesn't now."
To be used to + verb with ing describes something that you are now familiar with.
For example, "Five years ago, I didn't know about the internet. Now I am used to working with it."
43 comments on “How to use "used to" in English”
it is a very useful for me and it is fantastic website
wow i like it…its better then our english grammar teacher guidance or explanation!! thnk u very much:)
It is wonderful :I like it .Thank u very much.
hi, my question is that we use ((used to ))for past habite ,can we use ((use to ))for now???
thanks
No, you can't use "use to" for present habit. For present habit, use the simple present tense.
can i say
iam using to working
can i say "I used to study Japanese for three years" ?
You don't need to write "for three years". If you want to say how long you did something for, then just say "I studied Japanese for three years".
i m confusing with these usage before, thank u very much :)
n mani
Aug 8, 2007
# very clear example and explanations! thanks.
what about "get used to"? could you please give an example how to use it.
Thanx
"Get used to" means "become accustomed to".
For example, if you move to England you will need to get used to driving on the left.
After "get used to" you need either a noun or a gerund (ing) form.
When I moved to Italy, I got used to eating pasta.
When I moved to Italy, I got used to pasta.
could i say
when i was young,I used to playing with the toys.
No. It's accurate to say "When I was young, I used to play with toys."
please I want to know the difference between "I'm used to doing" & "I get used to doing"
If you are used to doing something, you are already familiar with it. But if you get used to doing something, you are not yet familiar with it, and you are in the process of becoming familiar with it.
very nice keep it up
that's brilliant!
In your explaination to Star above, "When I moved to Italy, I got used to eating pasta". Does it mean now "I" don't eat pasta anymore(because it's used to express past habit but not now)?
No, it means that before I didn't eat past. "Get used to" means "get the habit". Don't confuse it with "used to", which means "habit in the past".
Can we use: I am used to+v-ing, or I was used to+v.ing? what is the difference? and the same thing with (got) can we say (get) used to instead of (got) used to? what is he difference?
I am used to (now), but I was used to (then). I get used to = I become used to something (now). I got used to = I became used to something (in the past).
Need a clarification ….suppose I am telling something about my past life to somebody like….I used to be very naughty when I was 10 years old. I used to trouble people, I didn't used to study, I used to disobey my teachers, I used to get punished. Now My question is do I need to say or mention "used to " again & again in my sentences or is there any other way to say these sentences. I'll be highly obliged if you could help me or rephrase my sentences if they are wrong.
You can also use "would" to talk about past actions:
I used to be very naughty…. and I would never study or obey my teachers.
You can also use the simple past to talk about past habits and situations:
My teachers often punished me because I disobeyed them.
Excellent sharing! Is it o.k if I say "I am new in this place, I should get used to everything here A.S.A.P" Right ?
Yes!
I'm very confused over the matter of use/used and its been discussed among a number of peers and I. Used, in the sense that it is often used must be a special verb… "I use(d) to understand…" in that sentence (well part of it) 'understand' is the verb; and thus i would use 'use' as something other than a verb (im just not sure of what it is in my useage), rather than as a past tense verb.
"I was use to the way in which we once voted."
Voted is a past tense verb, why must use be?
We say "used to" to show that something was a habit in the past, but isn't now:
I used to play the piano = In the past playing the piano was a habit, but I don't play the piano now.
This is the best site that I had ever visited over internet . I used to waste my most of time searching inside internet to find someone to chat and to pass my precious time without achiving any espacial work. Now I have found my favourite site I really enjoy using this . thanks to the Administrater team for their hard working jobs.
Hi Claire …I am still confused with 'used to'..
pls see below mentioned sentence :
Earlier when we used to fight and we used to shout at each other, he used to resolve our matter.
I am confused where should I use 'would' here and where can I use simple past.
Please help.
You can use "would" to refer to past events (not states) so could use it in all the places you use "used to" in your examples. You can also use the past simple in all the places you use "used to".
Is this sentence correct? The organic antifreeze is use to prevent the formation of cell bursting ice crystals. Shouls I use "used to"? Does it mean it's only in the past?
No, use "used to" as a passive form of the verb "to use".
1)i used to live with my parents..
but i did not now…
2)i used to walk alone..
is the both sentences are correct ..?
Yes, the sentences are correct, but in 1 it should be "but I don't now".
Clare,
what i got from your lesson was:
I used to studying english with Clare.
I used to study math before this.
correct me if its wrong. (even if my sentences!)
=)
thanks.
The first should be "I am used to studying…"
would is oftenly use for future event but in obove comments would is use for past event please discribe the rules of would when will it be used for future and when for past
Hi Clare,
Thanx for helping us!
I have a question.
if i add ALREADY, does these sentence correct:
I already get used to using this cellphone….
and if i add WAS, is this right?:
I was used to played football…
Thanx!!!
Ps: are u using facebook? i wish yes, so we can talk to u more often about grammar problems…. :D
I have already got used to using this cellphone.
I was used to playing football.
You can join our fanpage on facebook! Just go to the english-at-home.com site and click on the facebook button on the right hand side of the page.
You can use "would" in different contexts. We can use it to describe past habits: "When I was young I would go to the beach in summer".
We can also use it for requests: "Would you open the window please?" and for offers: "Would you like a hand?"
Hi Clare,
Thanks lot of your web site. I didn't know how to use tense. Now I Know this.
Thanks
Irosha
my headmistress warned me..but i disobeyed to her..i ranaway from the class room. and when i used to jump the wall..i fell down..i had severe pain in my leg..then i realized and apologied to her for my shameless action..
pls can you tell the above passage is correct.
Sorry – no. Use "used to" to talk about a repeated or habitual action in the past – not for one event like you had in your sentence.
Thank you so much for great explanation in this lesson.
are my examples correct?
1**i used to write poems, but now i don't write them at all.
2**i'm used to watching English films & listening to English singers.
Yes, correct!
Thank you ms.Clare.
very clear explanation think you very much!
