How to use ‘Used To’ in English grammar

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How to use ‘Used To’ in English grammar– ‘Used to’ का प्रयोग भूतकाल की आदत  को व्यक्त करने के लिए किया जाता है। इसका प्रयोग modal auxiliary verb के रूप में उन sentences में किया जाता है जिनके अंत में करता था, करती थी, करते थे आदि शब्द जुड़े होते हैं। Modal verb के अलावा used to का प्रयोग एक adjective की तरह तथा passive sentences में भी किया जाता है जिनका विस्तारपूर्वक वर्णन इस पोस्ट में किया गया है।

How to use ‘Used To’ in English grammar

Used to का प्रयोग English grammar में तीन प्रकार से किया जाता है।

(1) ‘ Used To’ is used as a modal

(2) ‘Used To’ is used as an adjective

(3) ‘Used To’ is used in passive sentences

Let’s study these three in detail now:

(1) ‘Used To’ is used as a modal-

Any past habit that has been discontinued.
(भूतकाल की कोई आदत जिसे अब बंद किया जा चुका है।)

Action verb+ता,ते, ती (Ta,Te,Tee)…….था, थे,थी(Tha,The,Thee)
Structures:
1. Sub.+ used to+ v1+object (positive)
2. Sub.+did not+use to+v1+object (negative)
3. (WH)+did+sub+use to+ v1+object?(interrogative)
4. (WH)+did+sub. +not+use to+v1+object? ( negative interrogative)

Examples:
1. मैं सुबह जल्दी उठा करता था।
( Mai subah jaldi utha karta tha)
I used to get up early in the morning.
मैं सुबह जल्दी नहीं उठा करता था।
( Mai subah jaldi nahi utha karta tha)
I did not use to get up early in the morning.
क्या मैं सुबह जल्दी उठा करता था?
(Kya main subah jaldi utha karta tha?)
Did I use to get up early in the morning?
मैं सुबह जल्दी क्यों नहीं उठा करता था?
(Mai subah jaldi kyu nahi utha karta tha?)
Why did I not use to get up early in the morning?

2. जब मैं बच्चा था, मैं बहुत चाकलेट खाता था।
(Jab main bachcha tha,main bahut chocolates khata tha)
When I was a kid, I used to eat a lot of chocolates.
जब मैं बच्चा था, मैं ज्यादा चाकलेट नहीं खाता था।
(Jab main bachcha tha,main jyada chocolates nahi khata tha)
When I was a kid, I did not use to eat a lot of chocolates.
जब मैं बच्चा था, क्या मैं बहुत चाकलेट खाता था?
( Jab main bachcha tha, kya main bahut chocolates khata tha?)
When I was a kid, did I use to eat a lot of chocolates?
जब मैं बच्चा था, मैं ज्यादा चाकलेट क्यों नहीं खाता था?
(Jab main bachcha tha, main jyada chocolates kyon nahi khata tha?)
When I was a kid, why did I not use to eat a lot of chocolates?

3. वह मेरे साथ खेला करता था।
(Wah mere saath khela karta tha)
He used to play with me. (positive)
He didn’t use to play with me. (negative)
Did he use to play with me? (interrogative)
Why did he not use to play with me? (negative interrogative)

4. वह उनके साथ काम किया करती थी।
(Wah unke saath kaam kiya karti thi)
She used to work with them.
She didn’t use to work with them.
Did she use to work with them?
Why did she not use to work with them?

5. उन दिनों मेरे बाल लंबे हुआ करते थे।
(Un dino mere baal lambe hua karte the)
Those days, I used to have long hair.
Those days, I didn’t use to have long hair.
Those days, why did I use to have long hair?
Those days, why did I not use to have long hair?

6. मैं एक अच्छा स्टुडेंट हुआ करता था।
(Mai ek achha student hua karta tha)
I used to be a good student.
I did not use to be a good student.
Did I use to be a good student?
Why did I not use to be a good student?

2 ‘Used To’ as an adjective-

Be(is,am,are,was,were etc )+used to (आदी होना)
इस structure के जरिए वर्तमान काल, भूतकाल और भविष्य तीनों कालों की आदत को बताया जा सकता है।
(Habit can be described in present, past, and future)

1. Structures:
   1. Sub.+ is/am/are+ used to+v4+object (present)
2. Sub.+has/have been+ used to+v4+object (present)
3. 2. Sub.+was/were+used to+v4+object (past)
   Sub.+had been+ used to+v4+object (past)
   Sub.+had+ got+used to+v4+object (past)
4. 3. Sub.+ will be+ used to+v4+object (future)
   Sub.+ will+ get+ used to+ v4+object (future)

Examples:
1. मैं देर तक काम करने का आदी हूं।
( Main der tak kaam karne ka aadi hu)
I am used to working till late.
2. वह उसके नखरों का आदी है।
(Wah uske nakhro ka aadi hai)
He is used to her tantrums.
3. हम समाज में भ्रष्टाचार के आदी हैं।
( Hum samaj me bharashtachaar ke aadi hain)
We are used to corruption in society.
4. वह झूठ बोलने का आदी था।
(Wah jhuth bolne ka aadi tha)
He was used to telling a lie.
5. मेरा बेटा मोबाइल का आदी हो गया है।
(Mera beta mobile ka aadi ho gaya hai)
My son has been used to the mobile.
6. वह अकेले रहने का आदी हो जाएगा।
(Wah akele rahne ka aadi ho jaayega)
He will be used to living alone.
7.हम रोज-रोज उसके फालतू बहानों को सुनने के आदी हो गये थे।
(Hum roj-roj uske faltu bahano ko sunne ke aadi ho gaye the)
We had been used to listening to his nonsense excuses every day.
8. वह इस माहौल का आदी हो जाएगा।
(Wah is maahaul ka aadi ho jaayega)
He will get used to this atmosphere.
9. क्या तुम्हें चाय पीने की आदत हो गयी है?
(Kya tumhe chai peene ki adat ho gayi hai?)
Have you got used to taking tea?
10. तुम्हें बस एक महीने में कार चलाने की आदत हो जाएगी।
(Tumhe bus ek mahine me car chalane ki adat ho jaayegi)
You will be/get used to driving a car just in a month.
इतने सालों बाद भी तुम उसके साथ रहने के आदी क्यों नहीं हुए हो?
(Itne saalo baad bhi tum uske saath rahne ke aadi kyon nahi hue ho?)
Why have you not been used to living with her even after so many years?

Use of ‘Used To’ in passive sentences-

‘Used To’ is used to make passive voice as well.
Examples:
1. पैन का प्रयोग लिखने के लिए किया जाता है।
(Pen ka prayog likhne ke liye kiya jata hai)
A pen is used to write with.
2. सर्वनाम का प्रयोग संज्ञा के स्थान पर किया जाता है।
( Sarvnaam ka prayog sangya ke sathan per kiya jaata hai)
Pronouns are used to replace nouns.
3. कम्प्यूटर का प्रयोग डाटा स्टोर करने के लिए किया जाता है।
(Computer ka prayog data store karne ke liye kiya jata hai)
A computer is used to store data.
4. मोबाइल फोन्स का प्रयोग बात करने के लिए किया जाता है।
( Mobile phones ka prayog baat karne ke liye kiya jata hai)
Mobile phones are used to talk.

Common mistakes with “used to” in English

1. “Use to” vs “used to” (in positive sentences)
 I use to play soccer when I was a child. × 
I used to play soccer when I was a child. √ 

Rule: In positive sentences, ‘used to’ will always be used, not ‘use to’.

2. Use of ‘Present Tense’ for past habit  

I watch movies when I was a child. × 

 I used to watch movies when I was a child. √ 
Rule: When the habit is in the past and does not exist now, then the simple past can be used instead of the past as it is more clear.

3. Using “used to” for a present habit

 I used to wake up early every day. (अगर आदत अभी भी है) × 
 I wake up early every day. (present habit) √ 
I am used to waking up early every day. (अगर “आदत हो चुकी है” वाला sense हो) √ 

Rule: Used to + V1 only for past habits, which have changed now.

4. Wrong form of “used to” in questions

Used you to live in America? × 
Did you use to live in America?  √ 

Rule: ‘did’ will come in questions, hence the verb will be used in base form: Did you use to…?

Frequently Asked Questions about “used to”

Q1. What is the basic meaning of ‘used to’?

Ans: We use ‘used to’ for past habits (पुरानी आदतें) or past states (जो पहले सच था, अब नहीं).

Example: She used to drink coffee every morning. (पहले रोज पीती थी, अब नहीं)

Q2. What is the difference between ‘used to’ and simple past?

Ans: Both are used for pasting, but:

Simple past for any past action:

I went to Delhi last year.

Used to specially shows past habit / repeated action / past state for a long time.

I used to go to Delhi every summer.

Note: This makes it clear to the listener that this was a habit or regular activity.

I used to be at home at 8 pm yesterday. ×

I was at home at 8 pm yesterday.  √ 

I used to read the newspaper. √ 

Note: Use simple past for specific one day/ one time actions.

Specific ek din / ek baar ke action ke liye simple past use karein.

Q3. What is the present tense of ‘used to’?

Ans: ‘Used to’ does not have a direct present tense. To show a habit in the present, we use the simple present:

 I get up early every day.

Or be used to + noun/verb+ing:

 I am used to getting up early. (मुझे आदत हो चुकी है।).

Q4. What is the difference between ‘used to’ and ‘be used to’?

Ans: Used to + V1 = past habit / past state (अब नहीं):

I used to live in Haryana. (पहले रहता था, अब नहीं)

 I used to play with him when I was a child.

Be used to + noun / verb+ing =किसी चीज़ की आदत हो जाना:

I am used to spicy food. (मुझे चटपटा भोजन खाने की आदत है।)

She is used to talking nonsense. (उसे बकवास करने की आदत है।)

Q5. Which is the correct negative form: ‘didn’t used to’ or ‘didn’t use to’?

Ans: Grammatically the correct form is ‘didn’t use to’, because after ‘did’ the verb comes in base form:

I didn’t used to take tea. × 

I didn’t use to take tea.  √ 
Q6. Can we use both ‘I am used to’ in the present and ‘I used to’ in the past?

Ans: Yes, but meaning will be different.

I used to watch cartoons. (past habit – पहले देखता था, अब नहीं)

I am used to watching cartoons. (present habit – अब मुझे कार्टून देखने की आदत है।)

Conclusion– आशा है कि आप इस post (How to use ‘Used To’ in English grammar) में बताए गए सभी points अच्छे से समझ गए होंगे। यदि आपको यह पोस्ट helpful लगा हो तो इस पोस्ट को अपने Friends और Other students को Share अवश्य करें।

Read more posts:

Modals in English Grammar

Need and Dare

Past Modal Verbs- Part 1

Past Modal Verbs- Part 2

Past Modal Verbs Exercises