English 24
November 16th
A little bit of GRAMMAR

This week we'd like to focus on "used to"
When do we use "used to"?
Here is an example:

My brother Sean gave up smoking 3 years ago. He no longer smokes.
But he used to smoke. He used to smoke 30 cigarettes a day.

He used to smoke means that he smoked regularly for a period of time in the past, but he doesn't smoke now.

Past (He used to smoke) ___3 years ago___Now (He doesn't smoke anymore)

We use used to with the infinitive (used to do/used to smoke etc.) to say that something regularly happened in the past but no longer happens now.

- I used to play football every week, but now I don't have the time
- Do you go clubbing every weekend? No, but I used to
- Paul used to travel a lot for work, but now he prefers to stay in the office

We also use used to for past situations (which no longer exist)
- My mum used to live in a small village but now she lives in a city.
- This building is now a garage but it used to be a cinema.
- Do you see that old ruin there? It used to be a Roman fort.
- I've just started to drink Italian coffee; I never used to like it before.

2. Used to + infinitive is ALWAYS past. There is no present. You cannot say "I use to do"
When talking about the present use the present simple:
Past: he used to smoke we used to live there used to be
Present: he smokes we live there is

3. Question form: did … use to…?
Did you use to eat meat?
Did you use to catch the bus to work?

4. The negative form is:
Joanne didn't use to stay in all the time until she met Barry.
Sarah didn't use to have blonde hair.

5. Be very careful not to confuse I used to do and I am used to doing: the structures and meaning are very different.
I used to live alone (= I lived alone in the past but now I live with someone else)
I am used to living alone (=I live alone and I don't find it strange or new or sad because I've been living alone for some time)

Practice exercises

1. All of the following exercises are easy. It is all just practice to get you into the habit of using "used to". In this exercise you have to complete the sentences with used to

E.g. Sean doesn't smoke anymore, but he used to smoke at least 30 cigarettes a day.
a. My little sister doesn't cry very much now, but when she was younger she ………… (cry) every night.
b. Heddy ………. (be) my best friend, but we lost touch years ago.
c. We live in Newcastle now but we ……(live) in Killarney.
d. I ……….(be) afraid of peaches when I was a child, but I'm not anymore.
e. Joanne …… (have) a second hand car but now she has a brand new one!
f. There …….. (be) only one shop in our village but now there are at least 5.

2. This time it may get a little difficult, because you have to write some sentences about a woman who changed her life-style. Francesca stopped doing some things and started doing other things.

She started:
- Smoking
- Drinking a lot
- Going out clubbing every night

3. Make sentences like these:
e.g. Francesca used to work hard
She never used to smoke
1.
2.
3.
4.

4. Now write some sentences about the present. Remember there is no present tense of used to.
E.g. Francesca used to work hard but now she doesn't work very hard.

1.
2.
3.
4.

5. Question time!
Now it's time for you to ask questions with "used to". Mrs Jones is an old woman. You are asking her grandson what she used to do when she was younger.
e.g. I know she doesn't drive a car now, but did she use to drive a car?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6. Now write 5 sentences about yourself using "used to". If you like you can send them via email, and I will read the wackiest sentence out on the programme.

Answers below

1. a. used to cry; b. used to be; c. used to live; d. used to be; e. used to have; f. used to

2. Possible answers: Francesca used to go to the gym 3 times a week; Francesca used to keep fit 3 times a week; Francesca used to go to bed early; Francesca used to get up early; Francesca didn't used to go to bed late

3. More possible answers: Francesca didn't use to drink, but now she drinks a lot; Francesca didn't use to go clubbing, but now she goes clubbing every night; Francesca used to go to go to bed early, but now she goes to bed late; Francesca used to work out at the gym, but now she can't be bothered.

4.Even more possible answers: I know she doesn't smoke now, but did she use to smoke? Obviously she doesn't go jogging now, but did she use to jog? You said she doesn't like the royal family, but did she use to like it? She said she doesn't like dogs, but did she use to like them?