Used To

 The phrase "used to" has two main uses in English:

1. To describe past habits or states that are no longer true.

   • Habits: "I used to smoke, but I quit last year." (This means I smoked regularly in the past, but I don't anymore.)
   • States: "There used to be a bakery on this corner." (This means the bakery existed in the past, but it's no longer there.)

   In this use, "used to" is always followed by the base form of a verb (the infinitive without "to").

   • Examples:
     • "She used to play the piano."
     • "We used to go to the beach every summer."
     • "He used to have a long beard."

2. To be accustomed to something.

   • "I am used to the noise in the city." (This means I'm accustomed to or have adapted to the noise.)

   In this use, "used to" is preceded by a form of the verb "to be" (am, is, are, was, were) and is followed by a noun, pronoun, or the -ing form of a verb (gerund).

   • Examples:
     • "She is used to working long hours."
     • "They are used to living in a small apartment."
     • "He was not used to the cold weather."

It's important to distinguish between these two uses to avoid errors. Here are some additional points to keep in mind:

• Questions: "Did you use to live here?"
• Negatives: "I didn't use to like coffee."
• "Used to" vs. "used to doing": "Used to" describes a past habit or state, while "used to doing" means "accustomed to."
  • Example: "I used to run marathons" (I ran them in the past) vs. "I am used to running long distances" (I am accustomed to it).
• "Get used to": This means to become accustomed to something.
  • Example: "It took me a while to get used to driving on the left."