Cycling to the harbour was a routine; being a bakery was a state. Used to can describe both and normally contrasts the past with a situation that has changed. A single visit needs a different pattern.
The idea
Use used to + base verb for all subjects. In standard written questions and negatives, use did ... use to and didn't use to. The past simple can also describe former routines and states, but it does not itself highlight the contrast with now as clearly.
Examples
- I used to cycle to the harbour before work.
- This building used to be a bakery.
- She used to have very long hair.
- We didn't use to eat breakfast together.
- Did you use to collect stamps?
- I visited the harbour once last summer.
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Watch out
Do not put a past verb or -ing after this used to: say used to be. A one-off completed event normally takes past simple, not this habit construction. Be used to + -ing means being accustomed to something and is a different structure.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct option. This building used to ___ a bakery. (be / was)
Show answer or example answer
be
After used to, the verb stays in the base form: be, not was.
Choose the correct option. We didn't ___ to eat breakfast together. (use / using)
Show answer or example answer
use
The standard negative is didn't use to, followed by base-form eat. Using does not fit.
Choose the correct option. I ___ the harbour only once last summer. (visited / used to visit)
Show answer or example answer
visited
Only once last summer describes one completed visit, so choose past-simple visited, not the former-habit construction.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct option. This building used to ___ a bakery. (be / was)
Choose the correct option. We didn't ___ to eat breakfast together. (use / using)
Choose the correct option. I ___ the harbour only once last summer. (visited / used to visit)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write about one former habit and one past state in your neighbourhood, then explain what is different now. Ask a question with Did ... use to...? and add one single event in past simple.