林锋
一、基本用法
used to do sth.意思是“过去常常做某事”,表示过去习惯性、经常性的动作或状态,侧重于过去与现在的对比,暗指现在已经不存在。这个结构只有一种形式,即过去式,用于所有人称。注意此时used to后面用的是动词原形。例如:
I used to go swimming on Saturdays.
我过去常在星期六去游泳。
Life here is much easier than it used to be.
这儿的生活比过去容易多了。
二、句式变换
“used to do sth.”结构变否定句和疑问句时可以有两种形式:一是借助助动词did来完成——“didn’t use to”“Did … use to …”;二是在used后加not(可以缩写成usedn’t),以及把used提到主语前面。例如:
Mrs Green used to eat rice for lunch.
格林夫人过去午饭常吃米饭。
否定句:Mrs Green didn’t use to eat rice for lunch.
Mrs Green used not / usedn’t to eat rice for lunch.
疑问句:Did Mrs Green use to eat rice for lunch? Yes,she did. / No, she didn’t.
Used Mrs Green to eat rice for lunch?
Yes,she used to. / No, she usedn’t to.
三、相似结构区别
be used to do sth.
这个短语是被动结构,意思是“(某物)被用来做某事”。注意:to后应用动词原形。例如:
The wood is used to make desks and chairs.
木头用来做桌子和椅子。
Is a knife used to cut things? 刀是用来切东西的吗?
be used to sth. / doing sth.
表示“已经习惯于做某事”,指某个动作过去不常做而现在已经习惯做了,强调目前的情况。注意:to是介词,后面跟名词或动词-ing形式。有时动词be也可以换用get,侧重说明从不习惯到习惯。例如:
I’ve lived in London for six years now, so I’m quite used to the life.
现在我在伦敦住了6年了,所以我对这的生活很习惯了。
You’ll soon get used to living in the country.
你很快就会习惯住在农村的。
be used as
这个短语表示“被用来当作……”,是个被动结构。注意:as表示主语是什么。例如:
English is used as the second language in many countries.
英语在很多国家被用作第二语言。
This book can be used as a textbook.
这本书可用作教科书。
be used by
这个短语意思是“被……使用”,也是被动结构。注意:by表示使用者是谁。例如:
The desk was used by Mr Lu Xun.
这张书桌是鲁迅先生使用过的。
Was the pen used by Jackie Chan in that film?
成龙在那部电影里用过这支钢笔吗?
四、与would的区别
would也可以用来强调过去一段时间中经常性、反复性和习惯性的动作,但是它没有used to do那种过去与现在对比的用法。例如:
He would sit for hours saying nothing.
他往往会一坐几个小时不说一句话。
There used to be one shop in the village, but now there are ten ones.
村子里過去只有一家商店,但现在有10家。
would只能用来表示动作的重复性,不能用来指某一状态或情况,而used to do既可指动作也可指状态或情况。例如:
I used to have a house here.
我以前在这儿有座房子。(暗示现在没有了,表示现在的情况)
精选练习:
1. Miss Li___________go to hospital, but now she is in good health.
A. has to B. need to C. used to D. ought to
2. She used to___________with her parents, but now she is used to___________with her classmates at school.
A. live;living B. live;live C. living;living D. living;live
3. There___________a lot of red-crowned cranes in this area.
A. was used to B. was used to be C. used to D. used to be
4.___________Ben___________to go to the cinema at weekends?
A. Does;use B. Did;use C. Used;does D. Used;did
5. Stamps are ______ letters.
A. used sending B. used to sending C. used to send D. used to sent
Keys:1. C 2. A 3. D 4. B 5. C