Used To Vs Past Simple Exercises Quiz

Reviewed by Heather Baxter
Heather Baxter, BSc (Elementary Education and Teaching) |
K-12 English Expert
Review Board Member
Heather is an educator, with four years of teaching experience. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching. She is skilled in Teaching English as a Second Language and currently works as an Elementary School Teacher at Pinellas County Schools. She made a career transition one year ago to explore a new path in writing and copy editing. Heather's specialization lies in curriculum development and educational materials, but she maintains versatility to work across various industries. Known for her keen attention to detail and a deep passion for language, she possesses a sharp eye for precision.
, BSc (Elementary Education and Teaching)
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Used To Vs Past Simple Exercises Quiz - Quiz

Are you ready to put your knowledge of verb tenses to the test? Our Used To vs. Past Simple Quiz is here to help you evaluate your understanding of these two important past tense forms in English. Both "Used To" and "Past Simple" are used to talk about actions in the past, but they convey different meanings.
"Used To" is used to express past habits or actions that were frequent in the past but no longer occur, or actions that didn't happen in the past but do now. The "Past Simple" tense, on the other hand, is Read moreused to describe actions that occurred at a specific time in the past. It is often associated with specific time expressions.
In this quiz, you'll encounter questions that challenge your ability to choose between "Used To" and "Past Simple" based on the context. Whether you're expressing past habits, contrasting past and present actions, or narrating specific past events, understanding when to use each tense is crucial.
So, are you up for the challenge? Dive into the quiz, tackle the questions, and see how well you can distinguish between "Used To" and "Past Simple." Best of luck, and enjoy testing your knowledge of these verb tenses!


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    Which sentence correctly uses "used to"?

    • A.

      I used to play the piano every day, but now I don't have time. 

    • B.

      I used to go to the cinema last night. 

    • C.

      Did you used to live in London? 

    • D.

      I use to enjoy spicy food, but now I prefer milder flavors.

    Correct Answer
    A. I used to play the piano every day, but now I don't have time. 
    Explanation
    "Used to" is used to describe habits or states that existed in the past but no longer do. Sentence (a) correctly shows this by describing a past habit (playing the piano) that is no longer true. The other sentences use "used to" incorrectly: (b) describes a single past action, (c) has incorrect question formation, and (d) uses the present tense instead of the past.

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  • 2. 

    I ____________ smoke when I was a child.

    • A.

      Didn’t use to

    • B.

      Didn’t used to

    Correct Answer
    A. Didn’t use to
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "didn’t use to." This is because when talking about past habits or actions that no longer occur, we use the phrase "didn’t use to." The word "use" is the base form of the verb, and "didn’t" is the negative form of the auxiliary verb "did" used in the past tense.

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  • 3. 

    ______________ drink?

    • A.

      Did you used to

    • B.

      Did you use to

    Correct Answer
    B. Did you use to
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "Did you use to." This is the correct form to use when asking about past habits or actions. The phrase "use to" is used to indicate something that was done regularly or repeatedly in the past but is no longer done in the present. Therefore, "Did you use to" is the correct way to ask if someone had a habit or did something in the past.

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  • 4. 

    I  ________________ dolls when I was a child.

    • A.

      Used to play

    • B.

      Played

    Correct Answer
    A. Used to play
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "used to play". This is because the phrase "used to" is used to talk about past habits or actions that no longer happen. In this sentence, it implies that the person played with dolls in the past when they were a child, but they no longer do so. The verb "play" is in the base form without the -ed ending because "used to" already indicates the past tense.

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  • 5. 

    I  ______________ tacos this afternoon.

    • A.

      Ate

    • B.

      Used to eat

    Correct Answer
    A. Ate
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "ate" because it is the past tense form of the verb "eat." The sentence is referring to an action that happened in the past, specifically this afternoon, so the past tense is appropriate.

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  • 6. 

    My friend Mary ___________________, but now she does.

    • A.

      Didn’t use to smoke

    • B.

      didn’t smoke

    Correct Answer
    A. Didn’t use to smoke
    Explanation
    Mary used to not smoke in the past, but now she does. The phrase "didn't use to smoke" implies that she had a habit of not smoking before, but that has changed. "Didn't smoke" simply indicates that she did not smoke in the past, without any reference to a change in behavior.

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  • 7. 

    Ana Guevara __________in Europe four years ago.

    • A.

      Used to run

    • B.

      Ran

    Correct Answer
    B. Ran
    Explanation
    The sentence is referring to an action that Ana Guevara performed in the past, specifically four years ago. The phrase "used to run" implies a habitual or repeated action in the past, whereas "ran" indicates a one-time action in the past. Since the sentence does not mention any repeated action or ongoing state, "ran" is the appropriate choice as it describes a single occurrence of Ana Guevara running in Europe four years ago.

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  • 8. 

    I  __________ my homework yesterday.

    • A.

      Did

    • B.

      Used to do

    Correct Answer
    A. Did
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "did" because it is the past tense form of the verb "do" and is used to indicate an action that occurred in the past. In this sentence, "did" is used to show that the speaker completed their homework yesterday.

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  • 9. 

    Peter ______________choco milk, but now he drinks micheladas.

    • A.

      used to drink

    • B.

      Drank

    Correct Answer
    A. used to drink
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "used to drink". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and is referring to Peter's previous habit of drinking chocolate milk. The phrase "used to" is commonly used to talk about past habits or actions that no longer happen in the present.

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  • 10. 

    He _________________ piano lessons, but now he plays soccer.

    • A.

      Used to study

    • B.

      Studied

    Correct Answer
    A. Used to study
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "used to study". This is because the phrase "used to" is used to talk about past habits or actions that are no longer true in the present. In this sentence, it is implied that the person took piano lessons in the past, but now they play soccer instead.

    Rate this question:

Heather Baxter |BSc (Elementary Education and Teaching) |
K-12 English Expert
Heather is an educator, with four years of teaching experience. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching. She is skilled in Teaching English as a Second Language and currently works as an Elementary School Teacher at Pinellas County Schools. She made a career transition one year ago to explore a new path in writing and copy editing. Heather's specialization lies in curriculum development and educational materials, but she maintains versatility to work across various industries. Known for her keen attention to detail and a deep passion for language, she possesses a sharp eye for precision.

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  • Current Version
  • Oct 23, 2024
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    Heather Baxter
  • Jan 05, 2010
    Quiz Created by
    A_rosas10
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