Video narration
How do I talk about a routine I had before but don't have now? Picture your old walk to school: same route daily. You don't take it now. Say, "I used to walk to school." After "used to," use the plain verb: walk, not walked. This works for a past habit, or a past state that usually isn't true now. Here's the key: "used to" marks a past habit or state that usually isn't true now. In casual speech, "used to" often runs together and sounds quick; the exact sound varies by accent, so listen for the whole phrase. For a negative, say, "I didn't use to walk." For a question, "Did you use to walk to school?" After "did," it's "use," not "used." Now name your old routine aloud: "I used to walk to school"-"used to" plus the plain verb marks a routine that's changed.