October 27, 2009October 27, 2009

‘used to’‘used to’

October 27, 2009October 27, 2009

‘used to’‘used to’a way of talking about the pasta way of talking about the past

Look at the pictures and answer the question:

• What do the three old people have in common?

‘I’m 89 years old. I used to do a lot of sport but I don’t do any now. The most important thing for me is to feel good about life and laugh every day’.

‘I’ll be 85 on my next birthday. The thing that keeps me young is dancing. I didn’t use to do any physical exercise but now I dance every day’.

‘I can’t believe it but I’m 87! I used to smoke but I gave up when I was 55. I don’t do much exercise, but I like to keep my brain active. I love chess’.

Answer:• They all talk about something that happened

regularly or went on for a time in the past but that they don’t do now/they no longer do.

• Picture 1: I used to do a lot of sport but I don’t do any now.

• Picture 2: I didn’t use to do any physical exercise but now I dance every day.

• Picture 3: I used to smoke but I gave up when I was 55.

Listening practice 1Look at the photos of Melissa when she was at school and today. Listen to her talking about her school days. Then answer the question:

Was she a rebel or a good girl at school?

Listening Practice 2Listen again, mark the sentences True (T) or False (F):1. Melissa is a teenager in the photo2. She used to write things on the walls3. She didn’t like any of the subjects at school4. Her least favourite subject was PE (=Physical

Education)5. The PE teacher made them try to do difficult things6. She used to break the rules about the school

uniform7. She wanted to be a doctor8. Her parents wanted her to be a teacher

Answers:1. Melissa is a teenager in the photo T2. She used to write things on the walls F3. She didn’t like any of the subjects at school F4. Her least favourite subject was PE (=Physical

Education) T5. The PE teacher made them try to do difficult

things T6. She used to break the rules about the school

uniform T7. She wanted to be a doctor F8. Her parents wanted her to be a teacher F

When I was a child…

I used to go to the seaside every summer

I no longer go to the seaside

in the summer

PA S T P R E S E N T

Some examples:• I used to live in the country (=once/a

long time ago I lived in the country. Now I don’t)

• Sam used to spend his summer holidays in Mexico (=now he doesn’t)

• I used to smoke, but now I’ve stopped. NOT: I was used to smoke

• Christine used to eat meat, but now she’s a vegetarian.

• Sarah used to be fat, but now she’s thin.• Jerry used to study English, but he

doesn’t now.

Don’t get confused between:

1. I used to live in the country

2. I am used to living in the country

3. I got used to living in the country

A question for you: what’s the difference in meaning

between these three sentences?

Answers:• I used to live in the country = I no longer live in the country, I

live in a big city now• I’m used to living in the country =

living in the country is familiar and no longer strange

• I got used to living in the country= living in the country has become familiar/normal

Now make up the rule yourself:

• ‘Used to’ + inf. to talk about ………

• ‘Be used to’ + ing. form to talk about……

• ‘Get used to’ + ing. form to talk about……

Answers: • ‘Used to’ + Inf. ’ TO TALK ABOUT PAST

HABITS & STATES WHICH ARE NOW FINISHED. ‘Used to’ CAN BE FOLLOWED BY BOTH STATE & ACTION VERBS

• ‘Be used to’ + -ing. form TO TALK ABOUT PRESENT HABITS & STATES

• ‘Get used to’ + -ing. form TO TALK ABOUT THINGS/STATES THAT ARE BECOMING NORMAL/FAMILIAR

To express the idea with a graph…

I’m used to driving to work. It takes me half

an hour

PA S T P R E S E N T

Language Focus - Form: Subj.+ USED TO + _____+

- Subj.+ DIDN’T +____ TO + ____

? DID + Subj.+ ____ TO + ____?

Pronunciation:Note the pronunciation /ju:st/ & /ju:s/ in

these structures whereas the past of the verb ‘to use’ is pronounced: /ju:zd/

‘USED TO’ HAS NO PRESENT FORM!

Now it’s your turn!

Form questions with these prompts:

• go/work/to/live/you/how/to/in/use/did/you/New York/when?

• be/driving/used/to/you/work/to?

Answers:

• How did you use to go to work when you lived in New York?

• Are you used to driving to work?

Look at the pictures and use the prompts below to make sentences about Thomas e.g. Thomas used to …, now he…. Then listen and check your answers.

20 years agoDo a lot of sportHave a lot of hairBe quite slimNot have a girlfriendHave a bicycleNot have much money

NowNot do any sportNot have much hairBe overweight Be marriedHave a carGet a good salary

Language Practice 1Choose the correct form:

1. Mike used to go / uses to go to football matches

2. Used you to / Did you use to live in Hobson Street?

3. Helen was playing / used to play with dolls when she was small

4. This lake used to be / was used to be much bigger than it is now

5. I didn’t use to / I not used to like jazz, but I’ve changed my mind

6. Chris always used to meet / was always meeting his friends after school

7. Phil gets up / uses to get up early every morning

Keys

1. Mike used to go to football matches2. Did you use to live in Hobson Street?3. Helen used to play with dolls when she was

small4. This lake used to be much bigger than it is

now5. I didn’t use to like jazz, but I’ve changed

my mind6. Chris always used to meet his friends after

school7. Phil gets up early every morning

Language Practice 2Re-write the sentences with the necessary changes to the parts in bold when it is possible to use ‘used to’:

1. Did you see your grandchildren last summer?2. When I lived in NY I went jogging in Central Park twice

a week.3. Did Mrs. Springle dress smartly when she was the

Minister of Education?4. My sister Renata didn’t eat any kind of vegetables

when she was a child. Now she’s a vegetarian.5. Were your parents in Rome last May?6. Greenfall was a very quiet seaside resort once. Now it

has become very crowded.7. Bob took me to the airport in his car when I left last

week.8. For years our parents went on holiday to France. Now

they go to Spain.

Keys

1. Did you see your grandchildren last summer? OK2. When I lived in NY I used to go jogging in Central

Park twice a week.3. Did Mrs. Springle use to dress smartly when she

was the Minister of Education? 4. My sister Renata didn’t use to eat any kind of

vegetables when she was a child. Now she’s a vegetarian.

5. Were your parents in Rome last May? OK6. Greenfall used to be a very quiet seaside resort

once. Now it has become very crowded.7. Bob took me to the airport in his car when I left last

week. OK8. For years our parents used to go on holiday to

France. Now they go to Spain.

‘Used to’ vs. Simple Past

Both Simple Past & ‘used to’ can be used to describe past habits, events & states. However ‘used to’ is preferred to emphasize repetition of actions/situations that are now finished.

Language analysisWhich of the following sentences describes:

1. A single action in the past?2. Repeated actions/states in the past?3. Repeated actions/states in the present?

a) We used to laugh a lotb) We usually have toast for teac) I laughed when I saw him

Answers:

1 - c2 – a 3 – b

Further reflection on language:You can find explanations and further practice on ‘used to’ in “Working with Grammar Gold” (Longman) – Unit 20.6 - pages 397-398

You can find more info and examples on the following websites:

• http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/usedto/menu.php

• http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/usedto.html