English grammar
Used to + base verb
Describe where and how you used to live as a child, using used to.
From the scene We used to live here
In short
For past habits that have stopped, use used to + plain verb, the same for everyone. For habits now, use usually.
Your turn
Which one goes with what they did every day?
Options: they used to play with us · we used to live · she used to shout for us
Show answer
what they did every day → they used to play with us
How it works
For past habits that have stopped, use used to + the plain verb, the same for every person: we used to live, they used to play.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
We (blank) go there almost every day.
Options: are used to · used to · use to
Show answer
We used to go there almost every day.
Íbamos casi todos los días.
Good to know
Keep the verb plain: not "used to lived". Used to is only for the past.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
And at nine, my mother (blank) shout for us.
Options: used to · use to · was used to
Show answer
And at nine, my mother used to shout for us.
Y a las nueve, mi madre nos llamaba a gritos.
Good to know
For habits now, say usually: "I usually get up at seven", not "I use to get up at seven".
where we lived then we used to live
Nuria
We used to live here with my parents.
Aquí vivíamos con mis padres.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) here with my parents.
Options: They used to play with us · She used to shout for us · We used to live
Show answer
Nuria
We used to live here with my parents.
Aquí vivíamos con mis padres.
what they did every day they used to play with us
Nuria
Yes, and they used to play with us all day.
Sí, y jugaban con nosotros todo el día.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yes, and (blank) all day.
Options: they used to play with us · we used to live · she used to shout for us
Show answer
Nuria
Yes, and they used to play with us all day.
Sí, y jugaban con nosotros todo el día.
she / he: same form she used to shout for us
a habit now: usually I usually get up at seven (not "I use to")
Your turn
What goes with I usually get up at seven (not "I use to")?
Options: a habit now: usually · where we lived then · what they did every day
Show answer
I usually get up at seven (not "I use to") → a habit now: usually
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| where we lived then | we used to live |
|---|---|
| what they did every day | they used to play with us |
| she / he: same form | she used to shout for us |
| a habit now: usually | I usually get up at seven (not "I use to") |
More lines from the story
- NuriaWe used to go there almost every day.Íbamos casi todos los días.
- NuriaAnd at nine, my mother used to shout for us.Y a las nueve, mi madre nos llamaba a gritos.
- NuriaYes, the beach was very close.Sí, la playa estaba muy cerca.
- NuriaWe used to play in the street until it got dark.Jugábamos en la calle hasta la noche.