Átomo 56

Used to: habito o estado pasado

La regla

used to + infinitivo para algo que pasaba o era cierto en el pasado y ya no.

"used to + base verb for past habits or states that are no longer true."

"Used to" expresa un habito o estado del pasado que ya no ocurre: "I used to live in Madrid" implica que ya no vivo allí. Va siempre seguido de infinitivo (used to + verbo base). En negativas y preguntas pierde la "d": "Did you USE to work here?" / "I didn't USE to like coffee". Cuidado con la confusion: "be used to + ing" (estar acostumbrado a) es DIFERENTE: "I am used to working remotely" (ya estoy acostumbrado). Y "get used to" (acostumbrarse) también lleva -ing. Solo "used to" sin "be" expresa habito pasado.

Ejemplos

I used to live in Madrid before moving to Murcia.

Vivia en Madrid antes de mudarme a Murcia (ya no).

She used to work in finance before joining Nexora.

Ella trabajaba en finanzas antes de entrar a Nexora.

We used to deploy manually, but now we use CI/CD.

Antes desplegabamos a mano, pero ahora usamos CI/CD.

Did you use to play padel?

Solias jugar al padel?

He didn't use to like remote work.

Antes no le gustaba el trabajo remoto.

I used to drink a lot of coffee, but I quit.

Tomaba mucho cafe, pero lo deje.

There used to be an office in Cork.

Habia (antes) una oficina en Cork.

Casos típicos

Afirmativo: habito o estado pasadosubject + used to + base verb

I used to commute by train.He used to be shy.

Negativo: didn't use to (sin d)subject + didn't use to + base verb

She didn't use to enjoy meetings.

Pregunta: Did + subject + use to (sin d)Did + subject + use to + base verb?

Did you use to live abroad?

There used to be: para describir lo que existia antesThere used to be + noun

There used to be a coffee machine on this floor.

Trampas hispanohablantes

I am used to live in Madrid (when I was a child).I used to live in Madrid (when I was a child).

Habito pasado = used to + infinitivo. "Be used to" significa "estar acostumbrado a" (presente).

Did you used to work here?Did you use to work here?

En preguntas y negativas con did, "use" pierde la d: use to, no used to.

I used to working remotely.I used to work remotely. / I am used to working remotely.

Habito pasado = used to + infinitivo. Sí quieres -ing, necesitas "be used to" (acostumbrado).

I didn't used to drink coffee.I didn't use to drink coffee.

Despues de did/didn't, el verbo va en infinitivo: use, no used.

Mini-quiz

1/7.Elige la frase correcta para hablar de un habito pasado:

2/7.Elige la forma correcta en la pregunta:

Did you work in Madrid?

3/7.Completa la negativa:

She (not / use to / like) remote work.

4/7.Cual es la diferencia entre "used to" y "be used to"?

5/7.Elige la forma correcta:

There an office in Cork.

6/7.Traduce: "Antes desplegabamos a mano."

7/7.Completa la pregunta:

Did he (use to) commute by car?