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Unit 18 — used to (do)


A. Study this example situation

1. Nicola 的例子

Nicola 现在不怎么旅行。

Nicola doesn’t travel much these days. She prefers to stay at home.

但是过去:

But she used to travel a lot. She used to go away two or three times a year.

意思是:

She used to travel a lot = she travelled often in the past, but she doesn’t do this any more.

也就是说:

过去经常旅行,但是现在不再这样了。

时间关系:

PAST                              NOW
  │                                │
  │──── she used to travel ────▶   │
                                   │
                          she doesn’t travel

B. used to do

2. 基本结构

used to + 动词原形

意思:

过去经常做某事,但现在不再做了

即:

I used to do something = I did it often in the past, but not any more.


3. 过去的习惯

Example 1

I used to play tennis a lot, but I don’t play very much now.

我过去经常打网球,但是现在不怎么打了。

时间关系:

过去:经常打网球 现在:不怎么打了


Example 2

David used to spend a lot of money on clothes. These days he can’t afford it.

David 过去经常花很多钱买衣服。

现在他负担不起了。


Example 3

A: Do you go to the cinema much? B: Not now, but I used to.

A:你经常去电影院吗?

B:现在不去了,不过以前经常去。

这里:

I used to

实际上是:

I used to go.

因为后面的 go to the cinema 已经很清楚,所以可以省略 go


4. used to 不仅表示“过去经常做”

我们也可以使用:

used to

描述:

过去存在的状态,但现在已经不是这样了。


Example 1

This building is now a furniture shop. It used to be a cinema.

这栋建筑现在是一家家具店。

它过去是一家电影院。

结构:

used to be

= 过去是……,现在不是了。


Example 2

I used to think Mark was unfriendly, but now I realise he’s a very nice person.

我以前认为 Mark 不友好,但是现在我发现他其实是一个很好的人。

对比:

过去:I thought Mark was unfriendly. 现在:I realise he’s a nice person.


Example 3

I’ve started drinking coffee recently. I never used to like it before.

我最近开始喝咖啡了。

以前我从来不喜欢咖啡。


Example 4

Lisa used to have very long hair when she was a child.

Lisa 小时候曾经留着很长的头发。

这里的:

used to have

表示过去的一种状态。


5. used to 的两种核心用途

用法含义Example
过去习惯过去经常做,现在不做I used to play tennis.
过去状态过去是这样,现在不是It used to be a cinema.

核心都一样:

过去如此 → 现在已经改变


C. used to 只有过去形式

6. used to 本身就是过去

I used to do something

本身就是:

past

所以:

没有现在时的 use to do

不能说:

I use to do.

如果要谈现在的习惯:

使用 Present Simple


7. Past vs Present

PastPresent
he used to playhe plays
we used to livewe live
there used to bethere is

8. used to live vs live

We used to live in a small village, but now we live in a city.

我们过去住在一个小村庄,但是现在住在城市里。

时间:

PAST                         NOW
  │                           │

used to live live in a village in a city


9. there used to be

There used to be four cinemas in the town. Now there is only one.

这个镇过去有四家电影院。

现在只剩下一家。

对比:

there used to be = 过去有 there is = 现在有


D. Questions and negatives

10. used to 的一般疑问句

正常的疑问句结构是:

Did + 主语 + use to + 动词原形 ... ?

注意:

did use to

不是:

did used to

因为 did 已经表示过去时,所以:

used → use


Example

Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child?

你小时候经常吃很多糖果吗?

意思是:

Did you do this often?

你过去经常这样做吗?


11. used to 的否定形式

正常结构:

didn’t use to + 动词原形

例如:

I didn’t use to like him.

我以前不喜欢他。

也可以说:

I used not to like him.

不过更常见、更自然的是:

didn’t use to


12. 肯定 / 否定 / 疑问

类型结构Example
肯定used to + doI used to play tennis.
否定didn’t use to + doI didn’t use to like coffee.
疑问Did + 主语 + use to + do?Did you use to play tennis?

注意拼写:

肯定:used to

但是:

疑问:did ... use to 否定:didn’t use to


E. used to do vs was doing

13. 两者完全不是一个意思

used to do

过去经常做

强调:

过去的习惯

例如:

I used to watch TV a lot.

我过去经常看电视。

意思:

I watched TV often in the past, but I don’t do this any more.


was doing

过去某个时间正在做

强调:

某个过去时刻,动作正在进行

例如:

I was watching TV when Rob called.

Rob 打电话来的时候,我正在看电视。

意思:

I was in the middle of watching TV.


14. used to watch vs was watching

used to dowas doing
过去习惯过去正在进行
经常发生某个时刻正在发生
I used to watch TV.I was watching TV.
我过去经常看电视我当时正在看电视

时间轴对比

used to watch

PAST                              NOW
  ●    ●    ●    ●    ●           │
watch watch watch watch watch      │
  └────── repeated habit ──────┘   │

过去反复发生。


was watching

PAST                              NOW
         │                         │
   ── watching ──                  │
         ↑                         │
     Rob called

过去某一时刻正在发生。


F. used to do vs be used to doing

15. 这两个结构不要混淆

图片中特别强调:

Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing.

它们:

结构不同,意思也完全不同。


16. used to do

结构:

used to + 动词原形

意思:

过去经常做 / 过去曾经……,现在已经不是这样

例如:

I used to live alone.

我过去一个人住。

意思:

I lived alone in the past, but I no longer live alone.

过去:

一个人住

现在:

已经不一个人住了。


17. be used to doing

结构:

be used to + doing

意思:

习惯于做某事

例如:

I am used to living alone.

我习惯一个人住。

意思:

I live alone, and it’s not a problem for me because I’ve lived alone for some time.

也就是说:

我现在一个人住,而且已经习惯这种生活了。


18. 两个句子的关键区别

I used to live alone.

过去一个人住。

暗示:

现在已经不一个人住了。


I am used to living alone.

习惯于一个人住。

暗示:

现在很可能仍然一个人住。

而且:

一个人住对我来说已经习惯了。


19. 结构区别

结构后面接什么意思
used to do动词原形过去经常做
be used to doing-ing习惯于做
be used to + noun名词习惯于某事物

例如:

I used to get up early.

我过去经常早起。

而:

I am used to getting up early.

我习惯早起。


20. 为什么 be used to 后面是 -ing?

因为这里的:

to

不是不定式的 to

而是:

介词 to

所以后面如果接动词:

to + doing

例如:

be used to living be used to working be used to getting up


21. Unit 18 核心结构总表

结构含义Example
used to do过去经常做,现在不做I used to play tennis.
used to be过去是,现在不是It used to be a cinema.
used to have过去有,现在情况不同Lisa used to have long hair.
didn’t use to do过去不……I didn’t use to like him.
Did ... use to do?过去经常……吗?Did you use to eat sweets?
was/were doing过去正在做I was watching TV.
be used to doing习惯于做I am used to living alone.

22. used to 的核心时间概念

看到:

used to

脑子里首先想到:

过去 vs 现在发生了变化

时间轴:

PAST                               NOW
  │                                 │
  │────── USED TO DO ────────▶      │
  │                                 │

经常这样 不再这样

所以:

used to = 过去如此,现在不同


23. used to 不一定只是“经常”

这是一个很重要的地方。

很多时候我们把:

used to

简单翻译成:

过去经常

但这并不完整。

例如:

It used to be a cinema.

不能理解成:

❌ 它过去“经常”是一家电影院。

正确理解:

过去曾经是一家电影院。

所以 used to 可以描述:

① 过去反复发生的动作

I used to play tennis.

我过去经常打网球。

② 过去持续存在的状态

I used to live in Shanghai.

我过去住在上海。

③ 过去的想法 / 感受 / 状态

I used to think that.

我以前是这么认为的。

I used to like coffee.

我以前喜欢咖啡。

I used to have long hair.

我以前留长发。


24. 最重要的判断方法

如果你想表达:

以前是这样,但现在不是了

通常可以考虑:

used to

例如:

我以前每天开车上班,现在坐地铁。

可以说:

I used to drive to work every day, but now I take the subway.


我以前不喝咖啡,现在喝。

可以说:

I didn’t use to drink coffee, but now I do.


这里以前有一家商店。

可以说:

There used to be a shop here.


25. used to 和 Past Simple 的区别

两者都可以谈过去,但是重点不同。

Past Simple

I played tennis yesterday.

我昨天打了网球。

只是在说:

过去发生了一件事。


used to

I used to play tennis.

我过去经常打网球。

表达:

过去的习惯,而且通常暗示现在已经不这样了。


26. Past Simple vs used to

Past Simpleused to
过去发生的事件过去习惯 / 状态
不一定重复通常长期或重复
不强调现在改变通常暗示现在不同
I played tennis yesterday.I used to play tennis.

27. 三组非常重要的对比

① used to do

I used to get up at 6.

我过去经常六点起床。

核心:

以前的习惯


② was doing

I was getting up when you called.

你打电话的时候,我正在起床。

核心:

过去正在进行


③ am used to doing

I am used to getting up at 6.

我习惯六点起床。

核心:

现在已经习惯


28. 三者放在一起

Sentence含义
I used to get up at 6.我以前经常六点起床。
I was getting up at 6.六点时我正在起床。
I am used to getting up at 6.我习惯六点起床。

这三个一定不要混淆。


29. 图片中的全部重点例句

A

Nicola doesn’t travel much these days.

She used to travel a lot.

She used to go away two or three times a year.


B

I used to play tennis a lot, but I don’t play very much now.

David used to spend a lot of money on clothes.

Not now, but I used to.

It used to be a cinema.

I used to think Mark was unfriendly.

I never used to like it before.

Lisa used to have very long hair when she was a child.


C

We used to live in a small village, but now we live in a city.

There used to be four cinemas in the town. Now there is only one.


D

Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child?

I didn’t use to like him.

or:

I used not to like him.


E

I used to watch TV a lot.

I was watching TV when Rob called.


F

I used to live alone.

= 过去一个人住,现在不再一个人住。

I am used to living alone.

= 我现在已经习惯一个人住。


30. 最终思维模型

used to do

以前经常 / 曾经 → 现在不再

PAST                         NOW
  │                           │

used to do don't do │ │ └──────── CHANGE ──────────▶


was doing

过去某个时间正在做

PAST                         NOW
   ───── doing ─────
         ↑
    past moment

be used to doing

现在已经习惯做某事

PAST ─────────────────────▶ NOW
      repeated experience
                              │
                         am used to
                              │
                          已经习惯

31. 一句话记忆

used to do

以前这样,现在不这样。

didn’t use to do

以前不这样。

Did you use to do ...?

你以前经常这样吗?

was/were doing

过去某个时候正在这样。

be used to doing

现在已经习惯这样。


Unit 18 最核心的三个句型

I used to do it. 我以前经常这么做,现在不这么做了。

I was doing it. 我当时正在做。

I am used to doing it. 我已经习惯这么做了。

这三个结构虽然看起来很像,但表达的是三个完全不同的概念:

used to do → 过去习惯

was doing → 过去正在进行

be used to doing → 现在已经习惯