use to give

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "use to give" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to an action that was done in the past but is no longer done. For example: "My parents used to give me an allowance when I was younger, but they stopped once I got a job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

He use to give us an occasional, As-Salamu Alaikum [peace be to you] greeting".

Huffington Post

This measure is used in conjunction with total contraceptive use to give a more complete and programmatically useful picture of trends over time, along with possible programmatic responses to improving the method mix.

Global health, science and practice

T.T.: What do you use to give your features just the right amount of definition?

The New York Times

Is there a product you use to give his hair texture?

The New York Times

Newer players do have a tool they can use to give themselves against more experienced players.

Cornell University

The tools that writers use to give their novels credibility and gravity are no longer employed in our culture.

The Guardian - Books

There's a joke that's a starting point I use to give people a sense of who I am and what I do.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Fergie used to give us a lift into town.

The Guardian - Sport

"I used to give money to charity.

The New York Times

Iron Jacket used to give me it.

The New York Times

They used to give in a lot.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "use to give", ensure the context clearly indicates a past habit or repeated action. Avoid using it for single, isolated events in the past.

Common error

A common mistake is using "use to give" to describe a current action. Remember that "use to give" always refers to something that happened regularly in the past, but no longer occurs. For current actions, use "give" or another appropriate verb tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "use to give" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past habitual action or state. It signifies something that was done repeatedly or was generally true in the past, but is no longer the case. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, providing numerous examples of its application in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "use to give" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase employed to describe past habitual actions or states, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's essential to remember that this phrase is exclusively for actions that occurred regularly in the past but no longer take place. The usage is versatile and spans across neutral registers from journalism, academic, and scientific sources. While alternatives like "provide" or "offer" exist, "use to give" specifically emphasizes the past and discontinued nature of the action, making it a distinct and valuable tool in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer

Suggests presenting something for acceptance or rejection.

provide

A more formal and direct synonym for giving.

supply

Implies furnishing or equipping someone with something needed.

present

Formal way to offer something.

hand over

Implies physically transferring something.

grant

Suggests bestowing something as a favor or right.

furnish

Suggests providing something necessary.

bestow

A formal term for conferring a gift or honor.

allocate

Implies distributing something for a specific purpose.

impart

Suggests communicating knowledge or wisdom.

FAQs

How can I use "use to give" in a sentence?

You can use "use to give" to describe past habits or repeated actions that are no longer occurring. For example: "My grandfather used to give me candy every Sunday."

What's a more formal alternative to "use to give"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "provide", "offer", or "supply".

Is it correct to say "uses to give"?

No, "uses to give" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form for past habits is "used to give."

What is the difference between "used to give" and "would give"?

"Used to give" implies a past habit or state that is no longer true, while "would give" often suggests a willingness or conditional action in the past. For example, "He used to give money to charity" indicates a past habit, whereas "He would give money if he had it" suggests a past conditional action.