What does "used to" mean in English?

It describes past habits or states that are no longer true: I used to play with blocks.

Is it "didn't use to" or "didn't used to"?

"Didn't use to" is the standard form.

How do I ask a question with "used to"?

Use did + subject + use to: Did you use to walk to school?

Used To in English: Talk About Memories and the Past

Memories and the Past: "used to"

"Used to + base verb" talks about a habit or state that was true in the past but is not true now: "I used to play with blocks." For negatives and questions use "did" and drop the d: didn't use to, Did you use to…? Use it to share school memories.

🎬 Step-by-step story

This is THEN, the past. A small child plays with colourful blocks. Nothing has changed yet.
Yellow squares appear: the child played every day. A habit repeated again and again. We say: I USED TO play with blocks.
Slide time forward. The child grows and the habit starts to fade. "Used to" always has a before and an after.
Now we reach NOW. The child is bigger and holds a phone. We say: I don't play with blocks now. The habit has stopped.
Free play: drag the time slider back and forth and read the sentence. Say your own "I used to…" sentence about when you were small.

Tip: drag the 3D scene to turn it. Use two fingers to zoom.

🤔 Common doubts, cleared

Does "used to" mean I still do it?

No. It means it was true before, but it is not true now.

Why do we say "didn't use to" and not "didn't used to"?

The word "did" already shows the past, so the verb goes back to "use".

Is a habit the same as a single event?

No. A habit repeats (the many yellow squares). One event uses simple past, not "used to".

Can I use "used to" for things that were true, not only actions?

Yes: I used to be shy. We used to live in a village.

How is "used to" different from "be used to"?

"Used to + verb" is a stopped past habit. "Be used to + -ing" means you are familiar with something now.

What does "used to" mean?

We use used to + base verb for something that happened again and again in the past, or something that was true in the past, but is not true now.

Habit: I used to walk to school every day. (Now I do not.)
State: We used to live in a small town. (Now we live somewhere else.)

The verb after "used to" is the plain base verb: used to play, not "used to played".

Negatives and questions

The helping verb "did" already shows the past, so the "d" in "use" goes away.

Positive: She used to sing in the school choir.
Negative: She didn't use to like maths.
Question: Did you use to bring a lunch box?
Short answer: Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.

For one single event, do not use "used to". Say "I went to Jaipur last year", not "I used to go to Jaipur last year" (if it happened only once).

School memories: useful words and sentences

Use "used to" to share school memories. Useful words: playground, uniform, assembly, lunch box, favourite teacher, homework, bell, bench.

We used to line up for assembly every morning.
I used to share my lunch box with my best friend.
There didn't use to be a computer room in our school.

Add a feeling: "I miss it." / "It was so much fun." / "I'm glad things changed."

Do not mix these up

used to + verb = past habit that stopped. I used to ride a small bicycle.
be used to + -ing = I am familiar with it. I am used to waking up early.
would + verb can also tell repeated past actions (not states): When I was small, we would visit my aunt every summer.

Try it: five memory sentences

Write five sentences about yourself when you were five years old. Use "used to" for two, "didn't use to" for one, and ask a friend one question with "Did you use to…?".

Key formulas and definitions

Positive: subject + used to + base verb
Negative: subject + didn't use to + base verb
Question: Did + subject + use to + base verb?
used to + verb = past habit now stopped; be used to + -ing = familiar with

Worked examples

1. Make a sentence: (Ravi) play cricket every evening — but now he doesn't.

Ravi used to play cricket every evening.

2. Make it negative: "She used to like carrots."

She didn't use to like carrots. (did already shows the past, so use, not used.)

3. Make a question: "You used to live near the sea."

Did you use to live near the sea?

4. Choose: "I ___ getting up at five now." (used to / am used to)

am used to — it means I am familiar with it now: I am used to getting up at five.

Common mistakes

Writing "used to played": after "used to" use the base verb: used to play.
Writing "didn't used to": use "didn't use to".
Using "used to" for one single event in the past.
Mixing "used to + verb" with "be used to + -ing".

Practice quiz

Practice: answer these yourself

Type or choose your answer, then press Check. Use a hint if you are stuck; the full solution appears after you answer.