"Used to," "Didn't use to," and "Used to be" in Both English and Nepali
1.
"Used to" (गर्ने गर्थें / हुने गर्थ्यो)
English:
We use "used to" to
talk about past habits or past states that are no longer true in the
present. It refers to actions that happened regularly or situations that
existed for a long time in the past but have now changed.
Structure: Subject + used to + base verb (V1)
Use: For repeated actions in the past OR long-term situations in
the past.
Nepali:
हामी
"used to" को प्रयोग
विगतका बानीहरू वा विगतका अवस्थाहरू बारे कुरा गर्न गर्छौं जुन हालमा सत्य छैनन्। यसले
ती
कामहरू
जुन
पहिले
नियमित
रूपमा
हुन्थे
वा
लामो
समयसम्म रहेका
थिए
तर
अहिले
परिवर्तन भइसकेका छन्
भन्ने
बुझाउँछ।
बनावट: कर्ता + used to + क्रियाको मूल
रूप
(V1)
प्रयोग: विगतका दोहोरिने कामहरू
वा
विगतका
दीर्घकालीन अवस्थाहरूको लागि।
Examples
/ उदाहरणहरू:
|
English |
Nepali |
|
I used to play football every day. |
म
फुटबल दैनिक खेल्ने गर्थें। |
|
She used to live in Kathmandu. |
उनी
काठमाडौंमा बस्ने गर्थिन्। |
|
We used to go to that temple as
children. |
हामी
बाल्यकालमा त्यो
मन्दिर जाने
गर्थ्यौं। |
2. "Didn't use to" (गर्ने गरिन्नथ्यो / हुने गरिन्नथ्यो)
English:
We use "didn't use to"
to talk about past habits or states that did NOT happen in the past, but now
they do happen. It is the negative form of "used to."
Structure: Subject + didn't use to + base verb (V1)
Note: Because we use the auxiliary verb "did"
(didn't), the verb "use" goes back to its base form
(without 'd').
Nepali:
हामी
"didn't use to" को प्रयोग
विगतमा नभएका बानीहरू वा अवस्थाहरू बारे कुरा गर्न गर्छौं, जुन अहिले भइरहेका छन्। यो
"used to" को नकारात्मक रूप
हो।
बनावट: कर्ता + didn't use to + क्रियाको मूल
रूप
(V1)
नोट: किनभने हामीले
सहायक
क्रिया
"did" (didn't) प्रयोग गर्छौं,
क्रिया
"use" आफ्नो
मूल
रूपमा
फर्किन्छ ('d' बिना)।
Examples
/ उदाहरणहरू:
|
English |
Nepali |
|
I didn't use to like vegetables,
but now I love them. |
मलाई
तरकारी मन
पर्ने गरिन्नथ्यो, तर
अहिले मलाई
धेरै
मन
पर्छ। |
|
He didn't use to wake up early. |
उनी
चाँडै उठ्ने गरिन्नथे। |
|
They didn't use to have a car. |
उनीहरूसँग गाडी
हुने
गरिन्नथ्यो। |
3. "Used to be" (हुन्थ्यो / हुने गर्थ्यो)
English:
"Used to be" is a specific form of "used to" followed
by the verb "be" (being). We use this exclusively to talk
about past states, conditions, or characteristics that are no longer true.
You CANNOT use "used to be" for actions; it is only for
situations, identities, or qualities.
Structure: Subject + used to be + noun/adjective/prepositional phrase.
Use: Only for past permanent or long-term states (not actions).
Nepali:
"Used to be" भनेको
"used to" को विशेष
रूप
हो
जसपछि
"be" क्रिया
आउँछ।
हामी
यसलाई
विशेष
गरी
विगतका अवस्थाहरू, पहिचानहरू, वा विशेषताहरू जुन अहिले सत्य छैनन्, बारे कुरा
गर्न
प्रयोग
गर्छौं। तपाईंले "used to be" लाई क्रियाकलापको लागि प्रयोग गर्न सक्नुहुन्न; यो केवल
परिस्थिति, पहिचान,
वा
गुणहरूको लागि
हो।
बनावट: कर्ता + used to be + संज्ञा/विशेषण/स्थानसूचक शब्द।
प्रयोग: केवल विगतका
स्थायी
वा
लामो
अवस्थाहरूको लागि
(क्रियाकलाप होइन)।
Examples
/ उदाहरणहरू:
|
English |
Nepali |
|
She used to be a teacher. (Now she
is a doctor) |
उनी
शिक्षिका हुन्थिन्। (अहिले उनी
डाक्टर हुन्) |
|
This place used to be very quiet. |
यो
ठाउँ
धेरै
शान्त हुन्थ्यो। |
|
I used to be shy, but now I am
confident. |
म
लाजालु हुन्थें, तर
अहिले म
आत्मविश्वासी छु। |
|
They used to be friends. |
उनीहरू साथीहरू हुन्थे। |
Quick Comparison / छिटो तुलना (Summary)
|
English
Form |
Nepali
Meaning |
When
to use? |
Example
(Eng) |
Example
(Nep) |
|
Used to |
...गर्ने गर्थें |
Past actions (habits) & states |
I used to smoke. |
म
चुरोट पिउने गर्थें। |
|
Didn't use to |
...गर्ने गरिन्नथ्यो |
Past negative habits & states |
I didn't use to smoke. |
म
चुरोट नपिउने गरिन्नथ्यो। (अहिले पिउँछु) |
|
Used to be |
...हुन्थ्यो / ...हुने गर्थ्यो |
Only past states
(identities/qualities) |
I used to be a smoker. |
म
धुम्रपान गर्ने मान्छे हुन्थें। |
25 Practical Examples Using "Used to,"
"Didn't use to," and "Used to be" — All in Both English and
Nepali
They are divided by structure for
clarity.
A. "Used to" (Past habits & repeated
actions) – 10 Examples
|
# |
English |
Nepali |
|
1 |
I used to drink three cups of tea
every morning. |
म
बिहान तीन
कप
चिया
पिउने गर्थें। |
|
2 |
She used to walk to school when
she was young. |
उनी
सानोमा स्कूल हिँडेर जाने
गर्थिन्। |
|
3 |
We used to visit our grandparents
every summer. |
हामी
हरेक
गर्मीमा हजुरबा–हजुरआमालाई भेट्न जाने
गर्थ्यौं। |
|
4 |
They used to play in this park
after sunset. |
उनीहरू सूर्यास्तपछि यो
पार्कमा खेल्ने गर्थे। |
|
5 |
My father used to tell me bedtime
stories. |
मेरो
बुबा
मलाई
सुत्ने बेलाका कथाहरू सुनाउने गर्नुहुन्थ्यो। |
|
6 |
He used to cycle to work every
day. |
उनी
दैनिक साइकल चढेर
काममा जाने
गर्थे। |
|
7 |
We used to have picnics by the
river. |
हामी
खोला
किनारमा पिकनिक मनाउने गर्थ्यौं। |
|
8 |
My grandmother used to cook
delicious meals for us. |
मेरी
हजुरआमा हाम्रा लागि
स्वादिष्ट खाना
पकाउने गर्नुहुन्थ्यो। |
|
9 |
I used to read comics during my
free time. |
म
खाली
समयमा कमिक्स पढ्ने गर्थें। |
|
10 |
The children used to fly kites on
the rooftop. |
बालबालिकाहरू छतमा
चङ्गा उडाउने गर्थे। |
B. "Didn't use to" (Negative past
habits/states) – 8 Examples
|
# |
English |
Nepali |
|
11 |
I didn't use to eat spicy food,
but now I love it. |
म
मसलादार खाना
खाने
गरिन्नथ्यो, तर
अहिले मलाई
मन
पर्छ। |
|
12 |
She didn't use to wear glasses
when she was in college. |
उनी
कलेजमा हुँदा चश्मा लगाउने गरिन्नथिन्। |
|
13 |
We didn't use to have a television
at home. |
हाम्रो घरमा
टेलिभिजन हुने
गरिन्नथ्यो। |
|
14 |
He didn't use to exercise at all. |
उनी
बिल्कुलै व्यायाम गर्ने गरिन्नथे। |
|
15 |
They didn't use to speak English
very well. |
उनीहरू अङ्ग्रेजी राम्रोसँग बोल्ने गरिन्नथे। |
|
16 |
My brother didn't use to help with
household chores. |
मेरो
दाइ
घरका
काममा मद्दत गर्ने गरिन्नथे। |
|
17 |
I didn't use to like rainy days
when I was a child. |
म
बाल्यकालमा पानी
पर्ने दिन
मन
पराउने गरिन्नथ्यो। |
|
18 |
We didn't use to go on foreign
trips. |
हामी
विदेश यात्रा गर्ने गरिन्नथ्यौं। |
C. "Used to be" (Past states, identities,
conditions) – 7 Examples
|
# |
English |
Nepali |
|
19 |
He used to be very skinny, but now
he is muscular. |
उनी
धेरै
दुबला हुन्थे, तर
अहिले उनी
मांसपेशीयुक्त छन्। |
|
20 |
This building used to be a
hospital. |
यो
भवन
अस्पताल हुन्थ्यो। |
|
21 |
I used to be afraid of the dark. |
म
अध्यारोसँग डराउने मान्छे हुन्थें। |
|
22 |
She used to be my best friend in
school. |
उनी
स्कूलमा मेरी
सबैभन्दा मिल्ने साथी
हुन्थिन्। |
|
23 |
That river used to be crystal
clear. |
त्यो
नदी
क्रिस्टल जस्तो सफा
हुन्थ्यो। |
|
24 |
My uncle used to be a police
officer. |
मेरो
काका
प्रहरी अधिकारी हुनुहुन्थ्यो। |
|
25 |
Kathmandu used to be much less
crowded. |
काठमाडौं धेरै
कम
भीडभाड हुन्थ्यो। |
Quick Recap / छिटो सम्झनाको लागि:
|
Structure |
Purpose |
Example
(Eng) |
Example
(Nep) |
|
used to + V1 |
Past habits/actions |
I used to run daily. |
म
दैनिक दौडने गर्थें। |
|
didn't use to + V1 |
Negative past habits/actions |
I didn't use to run. |
म
दौडने गरिन्नथ्यो। |
|
used to be + noun/adj |
Past identity/state |
I used to be a runner. |
म
धावक
हुन्थें। |
30 Practice Questions with Blanks – "Used
to," "Didn't use to," and "Used to be"
Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct option from the
brackets.
The questions are divided into three
sections for focused practice.
Section A: Fill in the blanks with "used to"
or "didn't use to" (Questions 1–12)
Choose the correct option to
complete the sentence about past habits or actions.
|
# |
Question
(English & Nepali) |
Options |
|
1 |
I __________ eat meat, but now I
am a vegetarian. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
2 |
She __________ wake up late when
she was a teenager. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
3 |
We __________ have a dog, but it
passed away last year. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
4 |
They __________ travel abroad
because they had no money. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
5 |
My grandfather __________ smoke a
pipe every evening. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
6 |
I __________ like math, but now I
find it interesting. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
7 |
He __________ drink coffee; he was
a tea person. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
8 |
We __________ go to the cinema
every Friday night. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
9 |
She __________ wear a uniform to
school. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
10 |
They __________ live in a village;
they moved to the city recently. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
11 |
I __________ play the guitar, but
I forgot everything now. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
|
12 |
My father __________ cook dinner
because my mother did it. |
(used to / didn't use to) |
Section B: Fill in the blanks with "used to
be" (Questions 13–22)
Choose the correct option. All
answers will have "used to be," but the words around it change. Focus
on the state/identity.
|
# |
Question
(English & Nepali) |
Options |
|
13 |
That old mansion __________ a
royal palace. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
14 |
He __________ a very shy child,
but now he is outgoing. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
15 |
This empty plot __________ a
beautiful garden. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
16 |
My sister __________ a nurse
before she got married. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
17 |
Those mountains __________ covered
with dense forests. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
18 |
She __________ the most talented
singer in our town. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
19 |
This river __________ very deep,
but now it's shallow. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
20 |
Mr. Sharma __________ our
principal, but he retired last month. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
21 |
My best friend __________
overweight, but now he is fit. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
22 |
That small shop __________ a
popular restaurant. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
Section C: Mixed Practice (Questions 23–30)
Choose the correct option carefully.
Think about whether it's an action (used to + V1), a state/identity (used to be
+ noun/adjective), or a negative (didn't use to + V1).
|
# |
Question
(English & Nepali) |
Options |
|
23 |
I __________ live in a joint
family, but now I live alone. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
24 |
My hometown __________ a quiet
village, but now it's a busy city. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
25 |
She __________ eat junk food, but
now she eats healthy. |
(used to / didn't use to / used to
be) |
|
26 |
Ram __________ a great footballer
in his youth. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
27 |
We __________ visit our ancestral
home every Dashain. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
28 |
The weather here __________ so
unpredictable, but now it is stable. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
29 |
They __________ attend the morning
prayer regularly. |
(used to / used to be / didn't use
to) |
|
30 |
I __________ believe in ghosts,
but now I don't. |
(used to / didn't use to / used to
be) |
Answer only
1.
used to
2.
used to
3.
used to
4.
didn't use to
5.
used to
6.
didn't use to
7.
didn't use to
8.
used to
9.
used to
10. used to
11. used to
12. didn't use to
13. used to be
14. used to be
15. used to be
16. used to be
17. used to be
18. used to be
19. used to be
20. used to be
21. used to be
22. used to be
23. used to
24. used to be
25. didn't use to
26. used to be
27. used to
28. used to be
29. used to
30. used to
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