There used to be a castle here. vs This used to be a castle.

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'There used to be a castle here' implies that a castle existed in that specific location in the past, while 'This used to be a castle' suggests that the current location was once a castle. The choice between the two depends on the context and the emphasis the speaker wants to convey.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 768 views

There used to be a castle here.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that a castle existed in a specific location in the past.

This phrase is used to talk about the existence of something in a particular place in the past. It emphasizes the location where the castle used to be.

Examples:

There used to be a bakery here.
There used to be a tree in the backyard.
There used to be a school on this street.
There used to be a pond in the park.
There used to be a hotel at this intersection.

Show examples from the web [+]

There used to be a castle there.
Really, I can see that used to be a castle long time ago!
It doesn't even seem to be a castle.
The grandiose announcement of a new Employment Pact turned out in reality to be a castle in the air.
Used to be the grand hall of a castle, until it sunk underground.
Used to be the grand hall of a castle, until it sunk underground.
Nearby there is a castle where I used to play as a child.
There used to be a really big house here.
I remember there used to be a big desk here.
There used to be a small shrine around here.
I could swear there used to be a card store right here.
There used to be a small baklava shop here.
There used to be weekend cottages here.
There used to be a cool magic store around here.
They say there used to be a torture chamber here.
There used to be a roadblock here.
On the word of Yoyneh, there's no more a castle here than a windmill.
Up until a couple of years ago... there used to be a convent here.
There used to be some freedmen livin' out here.
There used to be a fellow with a name something like that, worked around here.

Alternatives:

There was once a castle here.
A castle used to stand here.
In the past, there was a castle here.

This used to be a castle.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that the current location was previously a castle.

This phrase is used to describe a place that was formerly a castle. It emphasizes the transformation of the location from a castle to something else.

Examples:

This used to be a castle, but now it's a museum.
This used to be a castle, now it's a hotel.
This used to be a castle, before it became a restaurant.
This used to be a castle, but it was destroyed in a war.
This used to be a castle, until it was converted into a school.

Show examples from the web [+]

There used to be a castle there.
It doesn't even seem to be a castle.
Really, I can see that used to be a castle long time ago!
The grandiose announcement of a new Employment Pact turned out in reality to be a castle in the air.
Used to be the grand hall of a castle, until it sunk underground.
Used to be the grand hall of a castle, until it sunk underground.
Nearby there is a castle where I used to play as a child.
I cannot imagine owning a castle.
You and I are down on the sand making a castle.
Only a king should live in a castle.
There can be more than one queen in a castle.
This is the site of a castle.
Feels like I'm stormin' a castle.
I have a big house, a castle.
He tells me stories about a castle.
Your starter home is a castle.
He took me in Normandy... in a castle.
I would like to live in a castle.
He lives all alone in what's practically a castle.
And there was a princess in a castle.

Alternatives:

This was once a castle.
It was a castle in the past.
In earlier times, this was a castle.

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There used to be a castle here. vs This used to be a castle.