1 Use the Past Simple or used to
+infinitive to talk about past
habits, repeated actions or
states.
I used to eat a lot of sweets when I
was a child.
I didn’t use to be addicted to
chocolate when I was her age.
What did you use to eat a lot when
you were six?
2 Use would+infinitive to describe
repeated actions and habits - in the
past.
Some years ago, he’d call me every
other day from London. Sometimes,
he’d send me a postcard or some
photos. Not any more…
3 Attention to these expressions
be used to or
get used to
Be used to is used to describe things
you’re already familiar with.
Get used to is used to talk about
things you’re becoming familiar with or
are less strange or less difficult for
you.
I’m used to working from 8 to 5.
I got used to getting up early
to avoid treaffic jams.
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES WITH WORDS FROM
THE BOXES.
Text 1
would wait - used to be - got -
gave - would curl - would purr -
used to have
Susan ……………………………1 a cat,
Mimi, some years ago. Mimi
…………………………2 for her at the
. gate when she…………………3 home
from school every afternoon.
Mimi …………………….. 4
around her legs until she
5
…………………………………. her something to eat. Later, after the
6
girl had dinner, Mimi …………………. up on the sofa beside her
and go to sleep. Susan can still remember how soft her
beautiful grey hair ………………………………….7 .
Text 2
‘d avoid – worried – didn’t use to have -
used to have – didn’t realise – had to –
’d resort - didn’t feel – noticed –
got used to – would eat - felt
When Jean was a child, she ………………
………………………1 sugary cereals and
toast with a lot of jam for
breakfast. When she became an
adult, she ..……………… 2 about being fit
and …………………………3 breakfast.
She remembers that she ……………… 4 entering the kitchen to be
able to skip the morning meal. She ………………………… 5 she was
developing a bad health habit. Her friends ………………. that she
6
didn’t have enough energy to do what she …………………. 7 do because
she skipped breakfast. She………………… 8 to sweets, cookies and
fried food in the afternoon. As a result, she ………………. . 9 well.
Her doctor told her to drink some fruit juice, so that she .…..
…………………………………10 eating at breakfast time. In a few weeks,
Jean ………………………11 a boiled egg, some whole wheat bread and
feel better and better during the day. Mentally, she …………….. 12
sharper and more alert all day.

1. Use the Present Simple to talk about present
habits, repeated actions and states.
When I get home from work, I have a
packet of cookies.
2. Use the Present Continuous + always to talk
about annoying present habits or repeated
actions.
Why are mums always telling us what we
should eat?
3. Use will+infinitive to describe typical behavior -
predictable actions (not states) - in the
present.
When I get home from work, I’ll
always have something sweet.
Notice the difference when you describe
a future action.
I’ll eat some lasagna for lunch today.
4. Add a frequency adverb or a frequency
expression when you talk about a present
habit or repeated action.
Most of them come before the main verb and
after the verb be. Some of them can come at
the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
My sister rarely tidies up her room
I eat healthy food more often than not.
Occasionally, I have fried food at lunch.
She’s seldom available when I need her help.
5. If you need to show criticism, stress the
uncontracted form of will
He will do his homework watching TV
every evening.
Text 3
got used to - didn’t use to – teach -
made – stopped – is … talking -
‘s … telling – ‘ll leave - doesn’t know -
t won’t bring – gets - ‘ll end –
do you think – asked - ‘ll say
Last February I met this friend of mine
at the school where we both …………………..1
I ………………………………2 enjoy practising
sports before we met, but since then, I
………………..………..3 working out.
We ran and jogged together. I was thankful to her
because regular exercise …………………….4 me feel much
better, but some time ago, I noticed she had a
compulsive need to exercise and wanted me to be with
her all the time. I ……………………. 5 running with her and
now I run and jog on a treadmill.
A few weeks ago, she …………….. 6 me
to teach her English. She comes to
my house twice a week and she isn’t
a bad student. The problem is that
more often than not she keeps
texting her friends and ……………….
forever…………………..7 to one of them
on the phone during the classes.
It really ................. 8on my nerves because I’ve got
my job and a family to take care of and she’s the kind
of person who ……………………………9 when to go home.
Besides, when I ask her to open the windows, she
…………………..10 it’s more comfortable with the air-
conditioning. And to make things worse, she……… always
………………….11 me how to act or what to eat. She
………………..12her own pencils and pencil sharpeners to
class, so she …………………………..13 up taking mine home. By
the way, I also resent the fact that every time she
comes, she ……………………14. many half-finished cups of
tea on my sink. Please, help me! How ………………………. 15 I
could get rid of her presence without hurting her
feelings?
A.M.A. - 2013
1.

Susan …USED TO HAVE1 a cat, Mimi, some years ago. Mimi WOULD WAIT 2 for her at the
gate when she GOT3 home from school every afternoon. Mimi WOULD PURR 4 around her legs
until she GAVE 5 her something to eat. Later, after the girl had dinner, Mimi WOULD CURL 6

up on the sofa beside her and go to sleep. Susan can still remember how soft her beautiful grey
hair USED TO BE.7
2.

When Jean was a child, she USED TO HAVE 1

sugary cereals and toast with a lot of jam for
breakfast. When she became an adult, she WORRIED 2
about being fit and DIDN’T USE TO HAVE 3

breakfast.

She remembers that she‘ D AVOID 4

entering the kitchen to be able to skip the morning meal. She
DIDN’T REALISE 5
she was developing a bad health habit. Her friends NOTICED 6 that she didn’t
have enough energy to do what she HAD TO 7
do because she skipped breakfast. She’ D RESORT 8
to
sweets, cookies and fried food in the afternoon. As a result, she DIDN’T FEEL well. Her doctor told 9

her to drink some fruit juice, so that she GOT USED TO 10

eating at breakfast time. In a few weeks,
Jean WOULD EAT 11
a boiled egg, some whole wheat bread and feel better and better during the day.
Mentally, she FELT 12
sharper and more alert all day.

3.

Last February I met this friend of mine at the school where we both TEACH 1. I DIDN’T USE TO 2

enjoy practising sports before we met, but since then, I GOT USED TO 3 working out. We ran and
jogged together. I was thankful to her because regular exercise MADE .4 me feel much better, but
some time ago, I noticed she had a compulsive need to exercise and wanted me to be with her all the
time. I STOPPED5 running with her and now I run and jog on a treadmill.

A few weeks ago, she ASKED 6 me to teach her English. She comes to my house twice a week and she
isn’t a bad student. The problem is that more often than not, she keeps texting her friends and IS
forever TALKING.7 to one of them on the phone during the classes.

It really GETS 8on my nerves because I’ve got my job and a family to take care of and she’s the kind
of person who DOESN’T KNOW…9 when to go home. Besides, when I ask her to open the windows,
she ‘LL SAY10 it’s more comfortable with the air-conditioning. And to make things worse, she’ S
always TELLING 11
me how to act or what to eat. She WON’T BRING 12
her own pencils and pencil
sharpeners to class, so she’ LL END .13
up taking mine home. By the way, I also resent the fact that
every time she comes, she’ LL LEAVE 14.
many half-finished cups of tea on my sink. Please, help me!
How DO YOU THINK 15
I could get rid of her presence without hurting her feelings?