1 We use used to + infinitive to talk about regular past We used to have a dog.

( But now we have a

actions that do not happen now. cat.)
2 We use didn't use to + infinitive to talk about things that We didn't use to have a dog. (But now we
weren't true in the past, but are true now. have a dog).
Did they use to have a dog? No, they didn't.
Exercises
I Tom Black has left school and goes to university now. Write sentences describing the differences in his
life.
Three years ago Now
_________________________________________________
1 Lived in a small town. Lives in London.
Tom used to live in a small town, but now he lives in London.

2 Went in for tennis. Doesn't like sport.

________________________________________________
3 Didn't like music. Plays in a music band
________________________________________________
4 Had a lot of money. Doesn't have much money.
________________________________________________
5 Didn’t read many books. Reads a lot.
________________________________________________

II Underline the correct words to complete each
sentence.
1 Paul Smith didn't use to/ used to be a good
tennis player, but he's too old now.
2 At present Mat doesn't have a car, but he used
to/ didn't use to drive it a lot.
3 Before Ann went to Scotland, she didn't use to/
used to cold weather in winter.
4 Kate didn't use to / used to be my neighbour,
but we aren't neighbours any longer.
5 Used you to/ Did you use to eat a lot of ice cream
when you were a child?
III Complete the conversation with the correct form
of used to
A: There is a theatre studio here. I 1_________go
there when I was at school.
B: Really? 2__________ study art there?
A: Yes, I did. And I 3__________play in some
performances.
B: Well, you've never told me about that before.
A: No, I didn’t. I 4________be embarrassed
about it. I played strange and funny characters.
B: What? 5_______________ play animals or
things?
A: Yes, I did. I 6________________ like it, but I
had to.

IV Complete the sentences to say what these people used to do and what they do now.
1 Sarah / play / piano / now / flute Sarah used to play the piano, but now she plays the flute.
2 Mary / eat / meat / now / fish ______________________________________________________
3 Sam / not drink/ coffee/now/tea and coffee _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
4 Peter / be / best friends / Tom / now / Dan _______________________________________________
5 The Greens / live / Oxford / now / London
_____________________________________________________________________
6 Peter /jog / before work / now / after work
_____________________________________________________________________
7 John/ have/ riding lessons/now/driving lessons
____________________________________________________________________________________
Exercise II

1 used to
2 used to
3 didn't use to
4 used to
5 Did you use to

Exercise III

1 used to
2 Did you use to
3 used to
4 used to
5 Did you use to
6 didn't use to