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Modal verb used to

Practice with the exercises:

1. The modal verb: used to

Used to is a modal verb that refers to past actions which no longer occur in the present.

I used to sing in a choir when I was young.

I didn't use to like gardening.

	Structure	Examples
AFFIRMATIVE	Subject + USED TO + infinitive	Samuel used to play basketball when he was at school
NEGATIVE	Subject + DIDN'T + USE TO + infinitive	He didn't use to study before an exam but now he does
INTERROGATIVE	DID + subject + USE TO + infinitive...?	Did you use to go to pubs when you were in London?

Remember that used to is a modal verb that is always in simple past.

Used to usually refers to those actions that took place in the past and no longer occur in the present.

I used to go swimming but now I don't.

Did you use to read a lot at my age?

Used to is a modal verb that refers to past actions which no longer occur in the present.

	Structure	Examples
AFFIRMATIVE	Subject + USED TO + infinitive	She used to live in Boston but now she has moved to New York
NEGATIVE	Subject + DIDN'T + USE TO + infinitive	We didn't use to travel in summer but now we do
INTERROGATIVE	DID + subject + USE TO + infinitive...?	Did you use to go to bed late?