USED TO / DIDN’T USE TO Useful English Grammar

USED TO / DIDN’T USE TO Useful English Grammar English Speaking 360

Explanation + Extra Activities

“I used to” vs. “I didn’t use to”

“I used to” vs. “I didn’t use to” are both ways to talk about past habits or actions that don’t happen anymore. Here’s a simple explanation:

1. I used to

  • This means you did something regularly in the past, but you don’t do it anymore.
  • Example:
    • “I used to play football every weekend.”
      (In the past, playing football was a regular habit, but I don’t do it now.)

2. I didn’t use to

  • This means you didn’t do something in the past, but maybe now you do, or you just want to say it wasn’t a habit before.
  • Example:
    • “I didn’t use to like coffee.”
      (In the past, I didn’t like coffee, but now I do.)

Key Difference:

  • “Used to” = you did it before, but not now.
  • “Didn’t use to” = you didn’t do it before, but now you do.

Extra practice

“Used to” vs. “Didn’t Use to” QUIZ

BEGINNER LEVEL (15 Questions)

  1. I _____ (play) with dolls when I was a child.
  2. She _____ (not, eat) vegetables when she was young.
  3. They _____ (live) in New York, but now they live in California.
  4. I _____ (not, like) swimming, but now I love it.
  5. We _____ (have) a cat when I was little.
  6. He _____ (play) the piano, but he stopped years ago.
  7. I _____ (not, watch) TV when I was younger.
  8. My dad _____ (smoke), but he quit last year.
  9. We _____ (go) camping every summer.
  10. She _____ (not, speak) English, but now she’s fluent.
  11. My friends and I _____ (hang out) at the park after school.
  12. My brother _____ (not, enjoy) reading books when he was a kid.
  13. I _____ (ride) my bike to school every day.
  14. They _____ (not, have) a car, but now they do.
  15. He _____ (love) playing video games as a teenager.

BEGINNER ANSWERS

  1. used to play
  2. didn’t use to eat
  3. used to live
  4. didn’t use to like
  5. used to have
  6. used to play
  7. didn’t use to watch
  8. used to smoke
  9. used to go
  10. didn’t use to speak
  11. used to hang out
  12. didn’t use to enjoy
  13. used to ride
  14. didn’t use to have
  15. used to love

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (15 Questions)

  1. My sister _____ (not, enjoy) parties, but now she loves them.
  2. I _____ (get up) early every morning to go for a run, but I stopped last year.
  3. We _____ (not, travel) abroad often, but now we do.
  4. He _____ (play) soccer every weekend before he got injured.
  5. I _____ (not, eat) sushi, but now it’s my favorite food.
  6. When they lived in the countryside, they _____ (take) long walks every evening.
  7. The teacher _____ (not, give) us so much homework when I was younger.
  8. My grandparents _____ (not, have) a mobile phone when they were my age.
  9. I _____ (go) to the library every Saturday to borrow books.
  10. My parents _____ (not, like) loud music, but now they don’t mind it.
  11. When we were kids, we _____ (climb) trees in the backyard.
  12. My cousin _____ (not, enjoy) learning math, but now he’s an engineer.
  13. They _____ (go) to the gym every day, but now they rarely exercise.
  14. She _____ (not, like) dogs, but now she has two.
  15. I _____ (visit) my grandparents every summer when I was younger.

INTERMEDIATE ANSWERS

  1. didn’t use to enjoy
  2. used to get up
  3. didn’t use to travel
  4. used to play
  5. didn’t use to eat
  6. used to take
  7. didn’t use to give
  8. didn’t use to have
  9. used to go
  10. didn’t use to like
  11. used to climb
  12. didn’t use to enjoy
  13. used to go
  14. didn’t use to like
  15. used to visit

ADVANCED LEVEL (15 Questions)

  1. I _____ (not, have) the confidence to speak in public, but now I give presentations regularly.
  2. When I was a child, we _____ (always, spend) Christmas at my grandparents’ house, but now we celebrate at home.
  3. She _____ (not, believe) in ghosts, but after that strange night, her opinion changed.
  4. Our team _____ (not, perform) so well in the past, but now we’re one of the best.
  5. I _____ (think) pineapple on pizza was a strange combination, but now I love it.
  6. They _____ (rely) on public transportation, but after getting a car, they don’t use it as much anymore.
  7. Back when I lived near the beach, I _____ (take) long walks by the shore every evening.
  8. My friend _____ (not, care) about fitness, but now he’s a personal trainer.
  9. I _____ (write) stories when I was in high school, but I haven’t written in years.
  10. We _____ (not, go) out for dinner often because restaurants were expensive.
  11. She _____ (work) as a nurse, but now she’s a doctor.
  12. I _____ (not, understand) how to manage my time, but now I’m much more organized.
  13. He _____ (ride) his bike to work every day, but after he moved closer, he walks now.
  14. We _____ (not, know) much about climate change, but now it’s a global issue.
  15. The city _____ (not, have) many parks, but now there are plenty.

ADVANCED ANSWERS

  1. didn’t use to have
  2. used to always spend
  3. didn’t use to believe
  4. didn’t use to perform
  5. used to think
  6. used to rely
  7. used to take
  8. didn’t use to care
  9. used to write
  10. didn’t use to go
  11. used to work
  12. didn’t use to understand
  13. used to ride
  14. didn’t use to know
  15. didn’t use to have
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