Differences between using “used to” and the simple past

Question

In following examples I understand:

1. Situations are in the past.
2. Situations are continued until some time and stopped.
3. Situations are regular, routine and repetitive.

My question is should we use used to or simply use the simple past of a verb? When and how do we use used to and what are the differences?

Please, explain this to me with examples.

E.g. 1

I used to prepare this report when I was in Company X.

I prepared this report on daily basis when I was in Company X.

E.g. 2

I used to work for this company.

I worked for this company for 8 years.

E.g. 3

He used to play for X Country.

He played for X Country.

E.g. 4

He came to meet me regularly.

He used to come to meet me regularly.

Answer 1

You use used to to expresses a habit that you had in the past, but no longer have in the present.

Eg. 1:

I used to prepare => You did it more than once, as an habit

I prepared this report => You did it, when you were in the company, maybe you did it just once

Eg. 2:

I used to work for this company. => They usually/sometimes called you to work for them.

I worked for this company for 8 years. => For 8 years, that was your job.

Eg. 3:

He used to play for x country. => As a habit, or he usually played for its country.

He played for x country. => We don't know exactly how many times he played, but he played

Eg. 4: Basically their meaning is the same, because you use regularly.

He came to meet me regularly.

He used to come to meet me regularly.

In general, used to is used for past finished actions, that you usually have been doing. The simple past is used to talk about a past action, which might have happened at least once, maybe just once.