I remember only a few years ago when things used to be so different.

我記得才幾年前情形完全不一樣。

People used to be more modest and humble.

以前的人比較謙虛。

以上兩句皆採用了下列句型:

主詞 + used to + 原形動詞　　過去常/曾經……

＊這是一種表『過去的經驗』的句構, used之後為不定詞的to, 故之後接原形動詞。

例: I used to stay up late studying when I was in senior high school.

　(我以前唸高中時常熬夜唸書。)

　There used to be a park in my neighborhood.

　(我家附近以前有座公園。)

比較:

主詞 + be used to + 名詞/動名詞　　習慣於……

=主詞 + be accustomed to + 名詞/動名詞

＊accustomed a. 習慣的

＊在上述用法中, used是形容詞, 譯成『習慣的』或『適應的』, 其後的to則為介詞, 表『針對』之意, 故之後要接名詞或動名詞作受詞; 使用本句型時, 主詞通常是人或任何有思想的動物 (如狗貓之類)。

例: Mr. Smith is used to his wife's nagging.

　(史密斯先生已經習慣了他太太的嘮叨。)

　＊nagging n. 嘮叨

　The farmer is not used to live in the city. (╳)

　→The farmer is not used to living in the city. (○)

　(那位農夫不習慣住在城市。)

...they appear too materialistic, which is not to my liking.

　……他們顯得過於注重物質享受, 這一點我很不喜歡。

上列句中的which為關係代名詞, 代替其前整個句子"they appear too materialistic"的概念, which在所引導的形容詞子句中作主詞。本句旨在告訴我們關係代名詞which除可代替物外, 亦可用以代替整個句子, 此時 which 之前一定要有逗點。

例: Little Johnny failed the exam , which made his father angry.

　(小強尼考試不及格，這使得他父親很生氣。)