Grammar tips for non native English speaking Steemeans # 2

Hello fellow Steemeans!

This is the second issue of the series Grammar tips for the non native English speaking people here on Steemit! The use of ‘used to (do)’ is a subject that can be quite tricky. But, after reading the tips I brought for you today you will become a pro and boost the quality of your writing for the blogs you will be posting here in the future!

Used to (do)

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Joanne doesn´t go out much these days. She prefers to stay at home.
However, she used to go out a lot. She used to party two or three times a week!
She used to go out a lot = she went out partying regularly in the past, but she doesn´t do this anymore.

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Something used to happen = it happened in the past on a regular basis, but it doesn’t happen anymore.

• I used to play the piano a lot, but I don´t play very often now.
• Nina used to spend a lot of money on clothes. These days she cannot afford it.
• Do you go to the cinema much? Not nowadays, but I used to when I lived in London.

We also use used to .... for things that were true, but are not true anymore:

• This building used to be the post office.
• I used to think Mark was unfriendly, but now I realise he is a very nice person.
• I´ve started drinking green tea recently. I never used to like it before.
• Mona used to have very long hair when she was a child.

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REMEMBER!!
“I used to do something” is the past. There is no present form. It is not correct to say “I use to do”. To talk about the present, use the present simple.
Compare:

Past	Present
He used to dance	He dances
We used to live	We live
There used to be	There is

• We used to live in a small village, but now we live in London.
• There used to be four museums in this town. Now there is only one.

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I know ... Now, you are wondering how to ask questions with this structure, aren´t you?
Easy! The question form is did (you) use to ...?

• Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child?
• The negative form is didn´t use to.... (used not to... is also possible):
• I didn´t use to read the newspaper. (or, I used not to read the newspaper).

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Words to the very wise! 😊

Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing. The structures and meaning are different.

• I used to live alone. (= I lived alone in the past, but I no longer live alone).
• I am used to living alone. (= I live alone, and I don´t find it strange or difficult because I´ve been living alone for some time).

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Steem on & thanks for reading.

#steemiteducation