7s modal verbs

Used to
The verb used to is a'marginal' modal verb. U n like the other modal verbs, it is only found in the past tense. Therefore, when it is used with do to make negatives and questions, theform of the auxiliaryverb is always did. Usedto is used as follows:

modal verbs
lhere are two forms for a negative:

7s

didnot/didn'tuseto.
We didn't use to have central heating when I was a child. Alan didn't useto like children, butit's different now he has hisown.

usednotto.
I used

to describe an activity or the past.

state that happened many times in

notto

We used

be able to watch myself onTV at all. not to worry much obout money.

Gerry always used to go for o run before breakfast. Peter didn't use to say things like that when I knew him.

Things usedn'tto be so bod.

There are two forms for a question:

to refer to an activity or state that was true in the past but is no longer true.
to like rock climbing when I was younger. You didn't useto be so stressed!
I used

did+subject+ useto+ baseform:

e.g. did he useto...?

Didthey usetovisityou often? -Well, Mary usedto.

Used to takes

the followino forms:

used +

subject + to + base form:

?

e.g. used heto...

Theform usedtois used with all subjects e.g. l,we,you, he,she, it,
they.
I usedto Youusedto Sheusedto

Used

heto play the guitar?

Weusedto Youusedto Theyusedto

ln negatives, theform withdid is used the most. ln questions, the form with did is almost always preferred.

The common contracted negative form is didn't use to. The rarer usedto livein NewZealand. He used to deliver newspapers papers but he owns the
I

contracted negativeform

isusedn'tto.

.)

shop now.
Noncy ond Bill used to live in California.