4.258 'used to'

'Used to' has no inflected forms, and cannot be used with other modals.

• She used to get quite cross with Lally.
• ...these Westerns that used to do so well in Hollywood.
• What did we used to call it?

However, 'used to' can be used with the auxiliary verb 'do'. This is explained in paragraphs 4.261 and 4.262.

'Used' is sometimes regarded as a modal, rather than 'used to'. 'Used' is then said to be followed by a 'to'-infinitive.

4.259

'Used to' is used to say that something happened regularly or existed in the past, although it no longer happens or exists.

'Used to' is similar to 'would' when it is used to describe repeated actions in the past. However, unlike 'would', 'used to' can also describe past states and situations.

• I'm not quite as mad as I used to be.
• Actresses used to be very reluctant to wear tight corsets.

The use of 'would' to talk about things which happened regularly in the past is dealt with in paragraph 4.115.