Here are some common conversational structures in English.

I’m trying to…

This expression is used to inform somebody that you are attempting to accomplish something. After I’m trying, we use a to-infinitive.

• I’m trying to get a new job.
• He’s trying to go abroad.
• I’m trying to learn typing.
• I’m trying to learn cooking.
• I’m trying to learn driving/cycling/horse riding.
• I’m trying to quit smoking.
• I’m trying to lose weight.
• I’m trying to improve my English.
• I’m trying to improve my communication skills.

Talking about your plans

I’m gonna + (verb)

The word ‘gonna’ is incorrect grammatically. It is the conversational equivalent of ‘going to’.

Here are some examples:

• I’m gonna get a new job. (=I’m going to get a new job.)
• He’s gonna get married. (= He’s going to get married.)
• I’m gonna apply for that job. 
• I’m gonna ask her out until she says Yes.
• I’m gonna take a break.

Talking about your past habits

I used to + (verb)

This structure is used to talk about a person’s past habits.

• I used to smoke, but now I don’t.
• She used to teach at a music academy.
• She used to write poems.
• He used to write plays for television.
• I used to eat a lot of chocolates.
• I used to start work at 6 am.

Note that this structure is not used to talk about something that we still do.

Compare:

• She used to visit us every day. (= Now she doesn’t visit us every day.)
• She visits me every day. (Here we are talking about a current habit of the person.)