The Logic of
Used To & Would
It looks the same, but it's not. Is it a memory? A habit? Or a tool? Parece lo mismo, pero no lo es. ¿Es un recuerdo? ¿Un hábito? ¿O una herramienta?
The Old Photo (Past)
"I used to smoke."
Solía fumar (Ya no).Nostalgia (Action)
"We would play for hours."
Jugábamos durante horas (Recuerdo de acción).The New Shoes (Habit)
"I am used to the noise."
Estoy acostumbrado al ruido.The Sepia Photo (Used To)
Things that were true in the past, but NOT anymore. Works for EVERYTHING (Actions & States). Cosas que eran verdad, pero YA NO. Funciona para TODO (Acciones y Estados).
Formula: USED TO + Infinitive
"I used to play tennis."
Solía jugar al tenis. (Acción pasada)."She used to have long hair."
Solía tener el pelo largo. (Estado pasado)."We used to live in Paris."
Solíamos vivir en París. (Estado pasado)."I didn't use to like olives."
Warning: No 'd' in negative!
No solían gustarme las aceitunas.Common Error
There is no "Present Tense" for this meaning.
"I use to play tennis."
Correct: "I usually play tennis."
No digas "I use to play". Di "I usually play".The Nostalgia Filter (Would)
'Would' is poetic. It works for repeated ACTIONS, but it crashes with STATES. 'Would' es poético. Funciona para ACCIONES repetidas, pero falla con ESTADOS.
Action Verbs (OK)
Run, play, visit, go, sit, talk...
"Every summer, we would go to the beach."
Cada verano, íbamos a la playa. (Acción repetida)."He would always sit in that chair."
Él siempre se sentaba en esa silla. (Hábito/Nostalgia).State Verbs (FORBIDDEN)
Be, have, live, love, know, understand...
"I would be thin."
"I used to be thin."
Mal: I would be thin. Bien: I used to be thin."We would live here."
"We used to live here."
Mal: We would live. Bien: We used to live."I would have a dog."
"I used to have a dog."
The New Shoes (Adaptation)
Here, "TO" is a preposition. It acts like a magnet for -ING or Nouns. Aquí "TO" es una preposición. Atrae -ING o Sustantivos.
BE used to...
It's normal for you. No problem.
"I am used to getting up early."
Estoy acostumbrado a levantarme temprano."She is used to the heat."
Ella está acostumbrada al calor (Sustantivo)."They are used to working hard."
Están acostumbrados a trabajar duro.GET used to...
The process of adapting. It's becoming normal.
"I am getting used to driving on the left."
Me estoy acostumbrando a conducir por la izquierda."He got used to the noise."
Se acostumbró al ruido."You will soon get used to it."
Pronto te acostumbrarás (a ello).The Tool (Passive)
This is literally the verb "To Use" in passive voice. Es literalmente el verbo "Usar" en pasiva.
Subject = Object/Tool
Formula: Subject + BE + USED + TO + Infinitive
"A knife is used to cut bread."
Un cuchillo se usa para cortar pan."Wood is used to make furniture."
La madera se usa para hacer muebles."These keys are used to open the gate."
Estas llaves se usan para abrir la verja.Don't confuse with habits!
Here, "Used" means "Utilized".
Habit Master Challenge
- L1: Used to (Past)
- L2: Would (Nostalgia)
- L3: Be/Get used to
- L4: The Tool
- Boss: The Ultimate Mix
Q
Text
Start with...
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