这三种形式看起来相似,意思却相当不同。把它们弄清楚,是 B1 水平的一个经典里程碑。
used to + 动词——过去的习惯,现在已经不再
I used to smoke, but I gave up ten years ago.
We used to live in Prague.
核心含义是:过去是这样,现在不是了。和现在形成对比,正是这个结构存在的意义。
在否定句和疑问句中,-d 会消失:
I didn't use to like olives.
Did you use to play an instrument?
没有对应的现在时形式。 要表达现在的习惯,用一般现在时加上表示频率的副词:❌ I use to go to the gym → ✅ I usually go to the gym.
发音:used to 读作 /ˈjuːs tə/——是清辅音"s"的音,不是浊辅音"z",而且两个词会连读在一起。
would + 动词——过去反复发生的动作
Every summer we would drive to the coast.
My grandfather would sit on the porch for hours.
Would 适用于动作,不适用于状态。分界线如下:
✅ We used to have a dog. / ❌ We would have a dog. ✅ She used to be shy. / ❌ She would be shy.
对于状态动词——have、be、know、live、believe——只能用 used to。对于动作动词,两种形式都可以用,只是 would 的语气更偏文学化一些。
还有一个限制:would 要求叙述已经先交代好过去的背景。你可以用 I used to live in Prague 开始讲一个故事,但不能用 I would live in Prague 开头。先由 used to 搭好场景,再由 would 补充细节。
be used to + 名词 / -ing——习惯于
这是一个完全不同的结构,说的是现在。
I am used to the noise now.
She is used to working nights.
请注意这里的 -ing:used to 后面跟的是名词或动名词,绝不是动词原形。
❌ I am used to work nights. ✅ I am used to working nights.
一秒钟分辨的方法——看它后面跟的是什么。动词原形(used to work)是过去的习惯。名词或 -ing(used to the noise、used to working)则是"习惯于"这个结构。
get used to——逐渐习惯
It took a month, but I got used to the early starts.
You'll get used to it.
Be used to 是一种状态,get used to 是通向这种状态的过程。这个结构可以搭配任何时态:I'm getting used to it · You'll get used to it · I never got used to it。
三个结构对照
| 结构 | 后面接 | 含义 | 时态 |
|---|---|---|---|
| used to | 动词原形 | 已经不再的习惯 | 仅限过去 |
| would | 动词原形 | 过去反复发生的动作 | 仅限过去 |
| be / get used to | 名词或 -ing | 习惯于、逐渐习惯 | 任何时态 |
I used to drive to work.(过去的习惯,现在已经不再)
I would drive to work every Monday.(反复发生的动作)
I am used to driving to work.(对我来说现在这已经很习惯了)
和老同事重逢
A: Do you still cycle in?
B: No — I used to, but the traffic got too bad. I take the train now.
A: I remember you'd cycle in every day, even in January.
B: I did. I'm used to the train now, though. It took a while to get used to the early start.
Used to 标记已经放弃的习惯,would 在背景已经交代清楚之后补充细节,而 be/get used to 描述的是现在的状态。
自测
下面的测验需要你在这三种结构之间做出选择。