Used to

To describe habitual, repeated actions in the past, or past facts, we generally use the construction "used to + verb." Used to is only used in positive statements (with a positive verb).

Important:  Used to is used to talk about past states that are not true in the present.

• When I was little, we used to go camping a lot.

• When my father was young, he used to be a lifeguard.

• I used to work in London, but now I work here, in Canterbury.

Use to

To describe things which were not true in the past but are true in the present, we use 'didn't use to + verb'. The meaning with this form is that something was not true in the past, but that it is true in the present.

• I didn't use to like dogs when I was a boy.

• I didn't use to enjoy working here.

Use to...?

To ask questions about things in the past which we are sure are not true in the present, we use 'Did + subject + use to + verb...?'

• Did you use to go to school in London?       (You don't go to school now...)

• Did you use to have a girlfriend called Sophia?   (I know you don't now...)

Other forms

In spoken English, people often use the the modal "would," followed by the main verb to talk about past habits:

• When we were kids, we would play football all the time.

• When I was little, we would go camping a lot.

• When my father was in school, they would cane children who didn't behave.