there used to be表示“过去常有……”之意,出自there be句型,there be句型中的be动词应随时态和人称变化,有there is, there are,there was,there were,there will be,there has been, there have been,there should be,there must be,there may be,there can be,there used to be,等等,例如:
There used to be some really good stores but lots of them moved out to the mall. 以前/过去是有一些很好的商店,但它们很多都搬到购物中心去了(摘自《网易有道词典》)(本句中,there used to be表示“以前/过去有”之意)
there used to be句型的讲解
used to do sth过去常常做某事。
there be 句型表示某地有某物,某事有某人。
There used to be a small temple near my school.
在我学校附近曾经有个小的庙宇。
There used to be all kinds of fruit trees on the mountains in my village.
我们村的山上过去有各种各样的水果树。