Grammar · Verb tenses · A2 · Elementary

Used to, would and be used to

Last updated 21 July 2026

In short

Used to + infinitive describes past habits and states that are no longer true: 'I used to cycle to school.' Would also describes repeated past actions, but never states. Be used to + -ing means something feels normal now, and get used to describes the process of becoming familiar — the forms look alike but mean different things.

How to use 'used to' and its relatives

Form	Structure	Example
Past habit or state	subject + used to + infinitive	Mariam used to keep chickens behind the house.
Negative	subject + didn't use to + infinitive	I didn't use to enjoy spicy food at all.
Question	Did + subject + use to + infinitive?	Did you use to share a room with your brother?
Repeated past action	subject + would + infinitive	Every summer, we would swim in the river before breakfast.
Familiarity now	subject + be used to + noun/-ing	She is used to driving on the left now.
Becoming familiar	subject + get used to + noun/-ing	You will get used to the early starts.

What does 'used to' mean?

Used to + infinitive describes habits and states that were true in the past but are not true now: things you did regularly, or how things were. The contrast with the present is built into the meaning — saying you used to smoke implies you no longer do.

It exists only in the past. For present habits, use the present simple with an adverb like 'usually' — there is no such thing as a present-tense 'use to'.

My grandfather used to repair radios for a living.(past occupation, no longer true)
There used to be a cinema on this corner.(past state)
I use to play cricket every weekend.(no present form → I usually play (now) or I used to play (past))

'Used to' or 'would'?

Both describe repeated past actions, and skilled speakers mix them for variety. The difference appears with states: would only works with actions.

If the verb describes having, being, liking, living or knowing — a state — you must use 'used to'. This is the single most common error learners make with 'would'.

On winter nights, my father would read to us by the stove.(repeated action → would is fine)
We used to own a noisy old generator.(state → used to)
We would own a noisy old generator.(states refuse 'would' → used to own)

What does 'be used to' mean?

Be used to + noun or -ing means something is familiar and no longer strange. Despite the spelling, it has nothing to do with past habits — it describes the present, and the 'to' is a preposition, which is why a verb after it takes the -ing form.

After five years in Manchester, Tunde is used to the rain.(familiar now)
Nurses are used to working through the night.(preposition 'to' + -ing)
I am used to wake up before dawn.(→ used to waking up)

What does 'get used to' mean?

Get used to describes the process of becoming familiar with something new. It appears in every tense: you can be getting used to a new city now, have got used to it already, or promise yourself you will get used to it eventually.

It took me months to get used to the night shift.(the adjustment process)
She is slowly getting used to her hearing aid.
He never got used to the humidity in Kuala Lumpur.(the adjustment never happened)

Spelling: 'used to' or 'use to'?

In positive sentences, always write 'used to' with -d. After did or didn't, the auxiliary already carries the past tense, so the bare form 'use to' is the exam-safe choice. You will meet 'didn't used to' in informal writing, but avoid it in IELTS.

Did she use to work with you at the port?(bare 'use to' after did)
Did she used to work with you at the port?(the -d is already on 'did')

Common mistakes with used to, would and be used to

Real learner errors, corrected and explained — the fastest way to stop repeating them.

He use to work in a textile factory.

He used to work in a textile factory.

In a positive past sentence there is no auxiliary to carry the tense, so 'used to' must keep its -d.

She didn't used to eat vegetables.

She didn't use to eat vegetables.

After didn't, the past tense is already marked on the auxiliary, so the bare form 'use to' follows.

I am used to get up at five.

I am used to getting up at five.

In 'be used to', the word 'to' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a noun or an -ing form, never a bare infinitive.

We would live in a small flat near the port.

We used to live in a small flat near the port.

'Would' cannot describe past states like living or owning — states need 'used to'.

I used to living alone now.

I am used to living alone now.

'Now' shows the meaning is present familiarity, which requires be used to + -ing, not the past-habit structure.

She will used to the noise soon.

She will get used to the noise soon.

The process of becoming familiar needs the verb get: will get used to — 'used to' alone cannot follow 'will'.

Used to, would and be used to in IELTS

Grammatical Range and Accuracy is 25% of your Speaking and Writing scores — here is where this structure earns marks.

Speaking

Part 1 questions about your hometown or childhood are an open invitation: “My neighbourhood used to be full of rice fields, but it's all apartment blocks now.” That before-and-after contrast shows range and directly answers the question.
In Part 2 stories about the past, alternate 'used to' for scene-setting states and 'would' for repeated actions — “We used to spend summers at my uncle's farm, and every morning we would feed the goats.” Examiners hear the pairing as natural, flexible English.

Writing

In Task 2 essays about social change, 'used to' frames the past side of a contrast cleanly: “Families used to rely on a single breadwinner, whereas double incomes are now the norm.” It is shorter and more natural than 'in the past, people relied…'.
Use 'get used to' when discussing adaptation in Task 2: “Migrant workers must get used to new labour laws, languages and customs simultaneously.” It shows command of a pattern most candidates avoid.

Practise used to, would and be used to now

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Question 1 of 5

After two years in Lagos, I ___ the traffic noise.

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Check this rule in your own writing

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 'used to' and 'would'?

Both describe repeated past actions, so 'we used to play chess every evening' and 'we would play chess every evening' are both correct. But only 'used to' can describe past states — owning, living, liking, being. 'I used to have long hair' works; 'I would have long hair' does not, because having hair is a state.

Is it 'use to' or 'used to'?

In positive past sentences, write 'used to': 'She used to sing in a choir.' After the auxiliary did or didn't, the past tense is already marked, so use the bare form: 'Did you use to…?', 'We didn't use to…'. In exams, avoid 'didn't used to' even though it appears informally.

What is the difference between 'used to' and 'be used to'?

'Used to + infinitive' talks about the past: 'I used to commute by ferry' means I no longer do. 'Be used to + -ing' talks about the present: 'I am used to commuting by ferry' means it feels normal to me now. The two look similar but answer completely different questions.

Can I say 'I am used to do something'?

No. In 'be used to', the word 'to' is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, so it must be followed by a noun or an -ing form: 'I am used to the noise' or 'I am used to sleeping with the window open.' 'I am used to do' is always wrong.

How do I make questions and negatives with 'used to'?

Use did/didn't plus the bare form: 'Did you use to wear glasses?' and 'I didn't use to like olives.' A negative alternative is 'never used to': 'I never used to worry about deadlines.' All three patterns are accepted in IELTS speaking and writing.

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