USED TO FORM used to + VERB

1 Habit in the Past "Used to" expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past. It indicates that something was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now.

EXAMPLES Jerry used to study English. Sam and Mary used to go to Mexico in the summer. I used to start work at 9 o'clock. Christine used to eat meat, but now she is a vegetarian.

2 Past Facts and Generalizations "Used to" can also be used to talk about past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.

USED TO / WOULD We can avoid repeating used to when telling stories by using would instead. We can use would for repeated actions and past habits (BUT NOT STATES) which have changed. With would, we often use a past time reference. Ex: We’d often meet up on a Friday evening after work.

EXAMPLES I used to live in Paris. Sarah used to be fat, but now she is thin. George used to be the best student in class, but now Lena is the best. Oranges used to cost very little in Florida, but now they are quite expensive. She would come and pull my hair. We wouldn’t bully little kids at school.

"Used to" vs. Simple Past Both Simple Past and "Used to" can be used to describe past habits, repeated actions, facts and generalizations; however, "used to" is preferred when emphasizing these forms of past repetition in positive sentences. On the other hand, when asking questions or making negative sentences, Simple Past is preferred. But again, if you use negative and question form of “used to” it won’t be wrong. ***We use Simple Past NOT used to for actions which happened at a definite time in the past. Ex: I talked to my father last night.

EXAMPLES You used to play the piano. Did you play the piano when you were young? You did not play the piano when you were young.

EXERCISES:Use “used to” and the verb to complete these sentences. 1. He ___________ (go) online to find the information he wanted. 2. My sister __________ (go)to school by bus but now she cycles. 3. I _________ (be) thinner than my brother but now I am not. 4. My father ____________ (smoke) many cigarettes a day. He gave up smoking last year. 5. They _________ (play) football when they were younger. used to go used to be used to smoke used to play

Make the sentences negative and questions. I used to think the world was flat. (-) ………………………………………………………… (?) …………………………………………………… That building is now a cinema. It used to be a hotel. (-) ………………………………………………………… (?) ………………………………………………………… I used to eat a lot of sweets when I was a child. (-) ………………………………………………………… (?) ………………………………………………………… Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child / Did you eat a lot of sweets…? I didn’t use to eat a lot of sweets when I was a child / I didn’t eat.. It didn’t use to be a hotel. / It wasn’t a hotel. Did It use to be a hotel? / Was it a hotel? I didn’t use to think the world was flat (or) I didn’t think... Did you use to think the world was flat? / Did you think…

BE USED TO We use “be used to + noun or –ing form” to talk about a situation which you are familiar with, accustomed to. Use the negative form for a situation which is new and strange for you. See the examples below: - Selim is used to İzmir. He has lived here all his life. -I am used to getting up early. I’ve been getting up at 6 a.m. for 10 years. -I am not used to getting up early. I was an afternoon student last track and used to get up late.

GET USED TO Get used to + noun or –ing form is used to talk about a situation which is becoming more familiar to you. Underline all the tense and phrases and tell why we used them in the sentence. - “We used to live in California and we were used to living in a hot place. But we have just moved to Alaska and I’m sure we will get used to living here as well, but I think it will take a long time.”

EXERCISES

Complete the sentences using USED TO or BE USED TO. With which sentences can we use would? 1.He ……………………………….. (sit) in the back of the classroom, but now he prefers to sit in the front row. 2. When I was a child, I ………………………………… (play) games with my friends in a big field near my house after school every day. 3. It’s hard for my children to stay inside on a cold, rainy day. They ……………………….. (play) outside in the big field near our house. They play there almost every day.

4. People ………………………………………… (believe) that the world was flat. 5. Trains ………………………………….. (be) the main means of cross-continental travel. Today, most people take airplanes for long-distance travel. 6. Ms. Stanton’s job requires her to travel extensively throughout the world. She …………... …………………………… (travel) by plane. 7. You and I are from different cultures. You ……………………………………… (have) fish for breakfast. I ……………………………………………. (have) cheese and bread for breakfast.