used to be

He used to be a pilot but now he has a desk job .

他曾是飞行员，但现在做办公室工作。

Eating in East Berlin used to be a hazardous and joyless experience.

在东柏林就餐曾经是一件危险而且沉闷无趣的事情。

Water pipes used to be made out of elm.

水管过去是用榆木做的.

I used to be out on the tiles every night.

我曾每晚都在外面花天酒地。

Things ain't what they used to be.

现在情况不比从前了。

She used to be so fussy about her appearance.

她过去非常在意自己的容貌。

He used to be as smart as anything.

他过去聪明绝顶。

She's no less active than she used to be.

她和以往一样的活跃.

Modern zoos are much better than they used to be.

现代的动物园比过去的好得多.

The life used to be very interesting in my school days.

在我学生时代,生活非常有趣.

I used to be a linguist till I become a writer.

过去我是个语言学家,后来成了作家.

Pa used to be in the army.

老爸当过兵。

The company used to be in his direct charge.

该公司过去由他直接管理.

Poverty is less of a problem now than it used to be.

贫穷问题已较过去有所缓解。

"He used to be so handsome." — "And now?"

“他以前是那么英俊。”——“那么现在呢？”