In the English language, the expression ‘used to’ can be used in two similar but different idiomatic ways, and neither of these expressions is using the verb ‘to use’ in its literal sense.
‘Used to’ can be an adjectival phrase, meaning ‘to be accustomed to’, that functions as an adjective to describe the state of a noun or pronoun as exemplified above, or it can be an idiomatic marginal modal verb meaning ‘formerly but no longer’.
It is important for all students of English to learn these expressions and to be able to discern between them.
The verb to ‘use’
In its root form, the verb to ‘use’ literally means ‘to put something to a particular purpose’:
- I always use a knife to cut my food.
- These days, we all use word processors rather than pen and paper.
- I’m sorry, I’ve used up all the toothpaste.
- The verb to ‘use’ is used in two common expressions in English.
- Are you using the car or may I borrow it?
As a standard verb, in its literal use, the verb ‘use’ is conjugated in the same way as any other regular verb:
- I use (present simple)
- He uses (3rd person singular)
- I am using (continuous tense)
- I used (past simple/ preterite
- I have used (perfect tense/ past participle)
For more on verb conjugation, please see the relevant post.
The expression ‘used to’ meaning ‘to be accustomed to’
One use of ‘used to’ is in the sense of being accustomed to doing something, or to be in the habit of something:
- I am becoming used to getting my own way all the time.
- My brother is used to winning, so he doesn’t take losing well.
- In England, people are used to driving on the left side of the road.
- They were used to very cold weather.
- She has never been used to this kind of treatment.
In this sense, the phrase ‘used to’ is an adjectival phrase. That is to say that it is a phrase that functions as an adjective to describe the state of a noun or pronoun as exemplified above.
As an adjectival phrase, ‘used to’ does not change its appearance or form when used with different persons (1st to 3rd
singular or plural) or when used with different tenses.
When ‘used to’ is used in the sense of being accustomed to something it is typically followed by a noun or a gerund, possibly with an adjective. ‘Used to’ in the sense of being accustomed to something is always preceded by the verb to ‘be’, though there may appear a verb form or an adverb in between.
For more on parts of speech, please see the relevant post.
‘Used to’ meaning ‘formerly but no longer’
Another use of ‘used to’, quite at variance with its other meaning, is in the sense of having ceased to do or be something:
- I used to love strawberry ice-cream. (I do not like strawberry ice-cream these days)
- I used to climb trees when I was younger. (I do not climb trees nowadays)
- I used to visit my grandmother on weekends until . (My grandmother is no longer alive)
The mere presence of the expression ‘used to’ in these contexts is sufficient for the reader to understand that these sentences refer to matters confined to the past that are no longer the case, and the sentences require no further clarification.
This expression of ‘used to’ is a marginal modal verb; it precedes the main verb of the sentence and functions as an auxiliary modal verb, but is marginal because in contrast with the other modal verbs, can only be used in the past tense, and in addition exclusively the past simple tense. ‘Used to’ is not compatible with the continuous tense and to use it with the perfect tense would be a tautology.
This expression of ‘used to’ also does not change its appearance or form when used with different persons (1st to 3rd singular or plural).
The marginal modal verb ‘use to’ in the negative
While the marginal modal verb ‘used to’ can only be used in the past simple tense and does not ever change its form according to tense or person, it does appear as use to (without the -d) when formed with the negative ‘not’:
- I did not use to love strawberry ice-cream, but now I do.
- I didn’t use to climb trees when I was younger.
However, if the negative is formed with ‘never’, ‘used to’ retains its original form:
- I never used to visit my grandmother on weekends.
- I never used to like strawberry ice-cream.
Conclusion
‘Used to’ can be an adjectival phrase, meaning ‘to be accustomed to’, that functions as an adjective to describe the state of a noun or pronoun as exemplified above, or it can be an idiomatic marginal modal verb meaning ‘formerly but no longer’.
As an adjectival phrase, ‘used to’ always retains its form and is preceded by the verb to ‘be’, which clarifies the person and tense of the sentence. As a modal verb, ‘used to’ can only be appropriated in the simple past tense, and while it does not change its appearance in the positive, it does change to ‘use to’ when formed with the negative ‘not’.
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Exercises to practise
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cresswell, Julia. Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd edn (Oxford University Press, 2021)
Crystal, David. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, 3rd edn (Cambridge University Press, 2019)
Dreyer, Benjamin. Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (Penguin Random House, 2020)
Gwynne, N. M. Gwynne’s Grammar: The Ultimate Introduction to Grammar and the Writing of Good English (Ebury Press/Random House, 2013)
Hewings, Martin, and others. Cambridge English Grammar and Vocabulary for Advanced (Cambridge University Press, 2015)
Huddleston, Rodney, and others. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (Cambridge University Press, 2002)
Parrott, Martin. Grammar for English Language Teachers, 2nd edn (Cambridge University Press, 2011)
Quirk, Randolph, and others. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, reprint edn (Pearson, 2011)