Grammar: B1 - ⚙️ Verbs in Depth: ⏳ Perfect & Continuous Tenses - Lesson 7: "used to + infinitive" (Past habits & states no longer true)

⚙️ Lesson 7: "used to + infinitive"

Today, we will learn a very useful structure for talking about the past: "used to". We use it to describe past habits¹ (actions) and past states² that are no longer³ true today. It emphasizes a contrast⁴ between the past and the present.

The Structure: "used to" / "use to"

The structure is always followed by a verb in its infinitive⁵ form (the base form, e.g., go, eat, play). Pay close attention to the spelling in negative sentences and questions!

(+) Positive: Subject + used to + infinitive

"I used to live in a small village."

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(-) Negative: Subject + didn't + use to + infinitive (Notice: "use" not "used")

"She didn't use to like spicy food."

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(?) Question: Did + subject + use to + infinitive? (Notice: "use" not "used")

"Did you use to play near the river?"

Use 1: Past Habits (Repeated Actions)

We use "used to" for actions that we did regularly in the past, but we don't do them now.

Example 1: "My grandfather used to ride his bicycle to the market every day, but now he takes a tuk-tuk."

Example 2: "When I was a student in Battambang, we used to eat noodles for breakfast every morning."

Use 2: Past States (Situations)

We also use "used to" for situations or facts that were true for a long time in the past but have now changed.

Example 1: "This beautiful French building used to be a hotel, but now it's an office."

Example 2: "I didn't use to understand English very well, but my skills have improved a lot."

🧠 Practice Quiz: Complete the Sentence

Choose the correct form to complete each sentence.

1. I _______ live in a small village, but now I live in Battambang.
   Answer: used to
2. Did you _______ play near the Sangker River when you were a child?
   Answer: use to (Because the question starts with 'Did'.)
3. She _______ like durian, but now she loves it.
   Answer: didn't use to
4. There _______ be a famous cinema on this street, but it closed many years ago.
   Answer: used to
5. He _______ have a motorbike, but he sold it last year.
   Answer: used to

📝 Homework: Write About Your Past

Write true sentences about your past using the "used to" structure.

1. Write about a food you didn't use to like, but you like now.
   (Example: I didn't use to like papaya salad, but now I think it's delicious.)
   _________________________________________
2. Write about a hobby or activity you used to do when you were a child.
   (Example: I used to play football with my friends after school every day.)
   _________________________________________
3. Write about a place in your town. What did it use to be?
   (Example: The new coffee shop used to be an old bookstore.)
   _________________________________________

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Habit: (Noun) - ទម្លាប់ (tŭm'loăp) - Something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it. ↩
2. State: (Noun) - ស្ថានភាព (sâ'thanâ'phéap) - The particular condition that someone or something is in at a specific time. ↩
3. No longer: (Adverb Phrase) - លែង (laeng) - Not any more. ↩
4. Contrast: (Noun) - ភាពផ្ទុយគ្នា (phéap phtoy'knea) - An obvious difference between two or more things. ↩
5. Infinitive: (Noun) - កិរិយាស័ព្ទដើម (kĕ'rĭ'ya'sâp daem) - The basic form of a verb, without an ending (e.g., go, eat, be). ↩