They were used to hunt (for hunting) partridges

'They were used to hunt partridges' can be wrong, ambiguous, or correct depending on the intended meaning. Decide whether you mean a past habit (used to), being accustomed (be used to), or purpose/function (used for + -ing or passive infinitive), then pick the matching form.

Below are quick rules, many copy-ready rewrites, workplace/school/casual examples, a short editing checklist, and a few memory tricks so you can fix sentences fast.

Quick answer

Pick the meaning first: past habit = used to + base verb; accustomed = be used to + -ing; purpose/function = used for + -ing or passive infinitive. If you see "were used to + infinitive", rewrite for clarity.

Past habit: used to + base verb → I used to hunt.
Accustomed: be used to + -ing → They were used to hunting.
Purpose/function: used for + -ing → Nets are used for catching fish. Passive infinitive: Nets were used to catch fish.

Core explanation

The word "to" appears in two different roles. In "used to" (past habit) it's part of the infinitive marker and must be followed by a base verb. In "be used to" it's a preposition and must be followed by a noun or gerund (-ing). "Used for" signals purpose and usually takes -ing or a noun phrase.

used to + base verb = past repeated action or habit (She used to swim).
be used to + -ing = accustomed to something (They are used to working late).
used for + -ing / passive infinitive = purpose or function (The tool is used for cutting / The tool was used to cut ropes).

Diagnostic question: if you can answer "When did they do it?" it's probably past habit; if the question is "Are they comfortable with it?" it's be used to; if the question is "What is it for?" it's used for.

Grammar notes: why prepositions need -ing

Prepositions require a noun or gerund. Treat the "to" in "be used to" the same way you treat other prepositions-follow it with -ing.

Correct: "She is used to waking early." -
Wrong: "She is used to wake early."
Correct: "I used to wake early." -
Wrong: "I used to waking early."
Purpose: "used for" takes -ing or a noun phrase: "used for testing" or "used for tests."

Memory trick: three-question shortcut

Ask yourself: 1) Past habit? 2) Accustomed? 3) Purpose? Answer one and use the matching form.

If it's about the past → used to + base verb.
If it's about comfort/adjustment → be used to + -ing.
If it's about function → used for + -ing or passive infinitive.
Mnemonic: HAP - Habit (used to), Accustomed (be used to), Purpose (used for).

Common wrong → right pairs (8 direct fixes)

Each wrong sentence below is followed by clear rewrites. Keep the one that matches your intended meaning.

1: Wrong: They were used to hunt partridges.
- Purpose: They were used for hunting partridges.
- Past habit: They used to hunt partridges.
- Accustomed: They were used to hunting partridges.
2: Wrong: I'm used to smoke after dinner.
- Habit: I used to smoke after dinner.
- Accustomed: I'm used to smoking after dinner.
3: Wrong: He was used to run every morning.
- Habit: He used to run every morning.
- Accustomed: He was used to running every morning.
4: Wrong: I used to being shy around strangers.
- Fix: I used to be shy around strangers.
5: Wrong: The device was used to measuring temperature.
- Passive infinitive (purpose): The device was used to measure temperature.
- Used for: The device was used for measuring temperature.
6: Wrong: We're used to work long hours.
- Fix: We're used to working long hours.
7: Wrong: She used to taking the bus.
- Habit: She used to take the bus.
- Accustomed: She is used to taking the bus.
8: Wrong: The ladder was used to painting the ceiling.
- Purpose: The ladder was used for painting the ceiling.
- Alternative: They used the ladder to paint the ceiling.

Examples to copy: work, school, casual (12 practical lines)

Pick or adapt the sentence that matches your tone and meaning.

Work1: The spreadsheet was used to track expenses. (purpose: passive infinitive)
Work2: The spreadsheet is used for tracking monthly expenses. (purpose: used for + -ing)
Work3: She used to lead the marketing team. (past role/habit)
School1: We used to meet in the lab every Thursday. (past routine)
School2: Students are used to submitting essays under time pressure. (accustomed)
School3: The beakers were used for boiling the samples. (purpose)
Casual1: I used to play football with my neighbors. (past habit)
Casual2: I'm used to waking up early these days. (accustomed)
Casual3: Those old bikes were used for cruising around town. (purpose)
Rewrite1: Ambiguous passive: "They were used to hunt partridges." → "They were used for hunting partridges." (purpose) or "They used to hunt partridges." (past)
Rewrite2: The antennas were used to communicate with the base. → "They were used for communicating with the base." (clear purpose)
Rewrite3: Short fix: "I'm used to smoke" → choose "I used to smoke" or "I'm used to smoking" depending on meaning.

Rewrite help: a short editing checklist

When you edit a sentence with used/used to/be used to/used for, run these steps quickly:

1) Identify the intended meaning: habit / accustomed / purpose.
2) Choose structure: habit = used to + base verb; accustomed = be used to + -ing; purpose = used for + -ing or passive infinitive.
3) Fix the verb: prepositional "to" → change verb to -ing; infinitive "to" → keep base verb.
4) If the passive is ambiguous, rewrite into active voice or use used for + -ing to be explicit.

Step example: Fixing "They were used to hunt partridges": identify meaning, pick pattern, apply form → "They used to hunt partridges" (past); "They were used to hunting partridges" (accustomed); "They were used for hunting partridges" (purpose).

Real usage and tone: which sounds right where

"Used for + -ing" is neutral and common in manuals and reports. "Be used to + -ing" is conversational and personal. "Used to + verb" fits stories and past routines.

Formal/procedural: prefer "used for + -ing" or a passive infinitive for purpose.
Conversational: both "be used to + -ing" and "used to + verb" sound natural; use contractions if informal.
If a passive could be misread as "accustomed," prefer "used for + -ing" or an active rewrite.

Hyphenation, spacing, and tiny grammar points

Don't hyphenate "used to", "be used to", or "used for" in normal prose. Keep them as separate words. Punctuation doesn't change whether you use -ing or the base verb-meaning does.

Write "used to" as two words, not "used-to."
Keep the "to" in "be used to" because it's a preposition that needs a noun/gerund.
Punctuation (commas, dashes) won't fix a verb-form error; change the verb form instead.

Related mistakes to watch for (and quick fixes)

Several similar traps come up often-watch for them and use a quick substitution test: if "accustomed" fits, use be used to + -ing.

"Get used to" takes -ing: "She got used to working nights."
"Would" can replace "used to" in narratives for habitual past: "When we were kids, we would play all day."
Some verbs change meaning with gerund vs infinitive (stop doing vs stop to do). Check meaning before choosing form.
Wrong: "I used to enjoying music" →
Correct: "I used to enjoy music."

FAQ

Is "used to" followed by -ing or the base verb?

"Used to" meaning past habit is followed by the base verb: "I used to play." Do not use -ing there.

Do I write "be used to" + to-infinitive or + -ing?

"Be used to" takes a gerund (-ing) because "to" is a preposition: "She is used to waking early."

Which is correct: "They were used to hunt partridges" or "They were used for hunting partridges"?

Both can be correct depending on meaning. For purpose use "used for hunting partridges." For accustomed use "were used to hunting partridges." For past habit use "used to hunt partridges." When unsure, rewrite to state the meaning explicitly.

Can "used to" appear in passive voice?

Yes. For purpose the passive infinitive is common: "The nets were used to catch fish." That can be misread as "be used to," so use "used for + -ing" if you need clarity.

Quick way to fix a sentence with "used" in it?

Run the 4-step checklist: identify meaning (habit / accustomed / purpose), pick the pattern, correct the verb form (base vs -ing), and, if needed, rewrite actively or use "used for + -ing" to remove ambiguity.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence in context. Ask whether you mean a past habit, being accustomed, or a purpose. Try both plausible rewrites aloud-the one that fits the context is the correct choice.