Reduction: used to (past tense verb)

I wonder how an American pronounces…

used to
/yuw–stə/

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

1.  simple past tense verb

2.  emphasizes that something done
repeatedly in the past is finished.

Years ago, we used to have black rotary dial phones.
Now we all use cell phones.

 

used to … use to
/yuw–stə/ … /yuw–stə/

We write the d but we don’t pronounce it.
As a result, both forms are pronounced the same.

question
What color hair did she use to have?

affirmative
She used to have blond hair, but not any more.

negative
She didn’t use to be a redhead, but she is now.

used to
/yuw–stə/

I used to enjoy reading a lot,
but with little children in the house,
I just don’t have time for it.

use to
/yuw–stə/

I didn’t use to like gardening,
but we bought a house in the country.
Look at my flowers now.

 

use to
/yuw–stə/

Where did you use to live before moving here?
Didn’t you use to live in Indiana?

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

What did you used to do
before you became a dog walker?
I used to work in a store

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

I used to be afraid of speaking in public,
but not any more.

 

use to
/yuw–stə/

Didn’t you use to work at the Easton Bakery?
Yes, I did,…years ago.

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

Garfield, the cat, says he used to exercise.
I don’t believe him.  Do you?

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

I’m a teacher now, but I used to be a librarian.

 

used to … use to
/yuw–stə/ … /yuw–stə/

I don’t play baseball any more, but I used to.
I swim a lot now, but I didn’t use to.

This blog post is
Part 1 of a 5-part series.

Part 1:  used to (past tense verb) [link]
Part 2:  to use (regular verb) [link]
Part 3:  use (noun) [link)
Part 4:  be used to (adjective) [link]
Part 5:  get used to (adjective) [link]

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