You will learn how to:

 Talk about past events.

 Give information about you in past simple.
GUIDE NUMBER 7 I USED
TO

USED TO

Used to is a common phrase in English. It is for actions in the past. This lesson shows you how to use it properly. When you
are ready, try the tests at the bottom.

When You Can Use “Used to”

Used to is a phrase used to show something happened in the past but it does not happen any more. It could be either of these
two options:

1. Things in the past that are no longer true

2. Actions you did in the past but not anymore

Used to Structure

Always use a base verb after used to:

Used to + Base Verb

Examples:

I used to live in Japan. Now I live in Canada.

She used to play soccer when she was a child.
There are two different phrases depending on the situation.

Used to is for positive sentences.

I used to play with dolls.

She used to like swimming.

Use to is for negative sentences and questions.

I didn’t use to have a car.

They didn’t use to live in a big house.
Did you use to live in Japan?
Did she use to have a red bike?
 1. Fill the gaps with the correct word from the box.
didn’tpastnotsimpleinfinitive
1. We use 'used to' to talk about things that happened or
were true in the PAST but not now.
2. You can always use the past SIMPLE instead of 'used
to'.
3. We use 'used to' to emphasize that the action or state is
NOT what happens now.
4. Used to' is followed by the INFINITIVE verb.
5. To make questions and negatives with 'used to', we use
'did' and DIDN’T
2. Complete the sentence using the correct form of 'used to' and one of these verbs:
do sit play speak smoke buy have (2)
1. He lived in Brazil until he was seven. He USED TO
SPEAK Portuguese, but he's forgotten a lot of it now.
2. We DIDN’T USE TO HAVE smartphones or even
internet in our houses. To go online you had to go to an
internet café or library or something.
3. She USED TO SMOKE but she's given up now. She's
really healthy these days.
4. We USED TO PLAY together when we were children,
but I don't see them much any more.
5. You used to live on the same road as me! DID YOU
USE TO BUY sweets in that shop on the corner?
6. She DIDN’T USE TO DO any sport at all, but now she's
in the basketball team and she loves it.
7. We always USED TO SIT on the bridge with our legs
hanging down, and throw sticks into the river.
8. I didn't recognize him because of his new beard. He
DIDN’T USE TO HAVE a beard! He looks completely
different now.
3. What did they use to do 10 years ago? Read the sentences and number the pictures:
1. Mum and I used to watch TV series in the evenings.
2. Mr. Davis used to work as a cook in a famous
restaurant.
3. Jamie and Theo used to go jogging every morning.
4. Ella and Dylan used to go to a French restaurant on
Saturdays.
1. Usamos "solía" para hablar de cosas que sucedieron o
eran ciertas en el PASADO, pero no ahora.
2. Siempre puede usar el pasado SIMPLE en lugar de
'used to'.
3. Usamos 'solía' para enfatizar que la acción o el estado
NO es lo que sucede ahora.
4. Used to 'es seguido por el verbo INFINITIVO.
5. Para hacer preguntas y negativos con "solía", usamos
"hice" y "DIDN’T"
 
1. Vivió en Brasil hasta los siete años. Solía hablar
portugués, pero ahora ha olvidado mucho.
2. NO SOLICITAMOS TENER teléfonos inteligentes o
incluso Internet en nuestras casas. Para conectarse
tenía que ir a un cibercafé, a una biblioteca o algo así.
3. Solía fumar pero ahora se ha rendido. Ella está
realmente sana estos días.
4. Solíamos jugar juntos cuando éramos niños, pero ya no
los veo mucho.
5. ¡Solías vivir en el mismo camino que yo! ¿USAS PARA
COMPRAR dulces en esa tienda de la esquina?
6. NO HABÍA HECHO ningún deporte, pero ahora está en
el equipo de baloncesto y le encanta.
7. Siempre solíamos sentarnos en el puente con las
piernas colgando hacia abajo y tirar palos al río.
8. No lo reconocí por su nueva barba. ¡No solía tener
barba! Se ve completamente diferente ahora.
1. Mamá y yo solíamos ver series de televisión por las
noches.
2. El Sr. Davis solía trabajar como cocinero en un
restaurante famoso.
3. Jamie y Theo solían ir a trotar todas las mañanas.
4. Ella y Dylan solían ir a un restaurante francés los
sábados.
 5. Benjamin used to work in a big company.
6. Layla used to skip rope at school.
7. Alice use to take photographs in the nature at
weekends.
8. Mr. Gibson used to grow vegetables on his farm.
9. Cameron used to play in the school baseball team.
10. Rosie and Sofia used to go to a cafe and chat.
11. Toby used to visit his grandmother on holidays.
12. Isaac, Amy and Katie used wait for the school bus every
morning.
13. Edward used to roller-skate in the afternoons.
14. Emilia and Martha used to paint nice pictures.
15. Blake and Kian used to go hiking.
16. Tommy used to ride his bicycle afterschool.
5. Benjamin solía trabajar en una gran empresa.
6. Layla solía saltar la cuerda en la escuela.
7. Alice solía tomar fotografías en la naturaleza los fines
de semana.
8. El Sr. Gibson solía cultivar verduras en su granja.
9. Cameron solía jugar en el equipo de béisbol de la
escuela.
10. Rosie y Sofia solían ir a un café a charlar.
11. Toby solía visitar a su abuela durante las vacaciones.
12. Isaac, Amy y Katie solían esperar el autobús escolar
todas las mañanas.
13. Edward solía patinar por las tardes.
14. Emilia y Martha solían pintar bonitos cuadros.
15. Blake y Kian solían ir de excursión.
16. Tommy solía andar en bicicleta después de la escuela.

______2_______ ______5________ ______7_______ ______9________

______11_______ ______3_______ _____6_______ _______1______

_______8_______ ______10________ ______4______ ______13________

_____12_______ ______15________ _____14_____ ______16________

4. Read and answer what Molly Hornby used to do when she was young. Write right or wrong according to the text.
 THE WAY WE WERE

“I was a young girl in the 1960s. My friends and I used to do a lot of things which shocked our parents. We used to do things
our mothers never did. We cut our hair, we wore short skirts, we smoked, and went dancing. We danced to the music of
Elvis Presley and the Beatles. We also got the chance to see the Beatles live at a concert once. It was amazing. My father
went fishing once a week. He always wished that I would accompany him, but fishing was not my cup of tea. Instead my
friends and I went for picnics in the surrounding area quite often. My boyfriend had a car, a 1960 Ford Falcon, so he always
picked us up and we often drove to Brighton. We went to the pictures twice a week and I loved to watch films with Marlon
Brando and Elizabeth Taylor, especially the ‘Reflections in a Golden Eye’ starring both of them. I still love to watch this film.
It’s my favourite. I can remember it all so clearly.”

Molly Hornby …

…used to do a lot of things which shocked her parents. RIGHT

…used to cut our hair. RIGHT

…used to wear long skirts WRONG

…used to sing Elvis Presley songs. WRONG

…went to a Beatles’ concert once. RIGHT

…used to go fishing with her father. WRONG

…used to go for picnics in the surrounding area quite often. RIGHT

…used to drive to Brighton with her friends and boyfriend. RIGHT

…used to go to the pictures twice a week. RIGHT

…used to watch films with Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor. WRONG