Session 24

Used to:

1. Form
Used To + Base Verb

Used to is always followed by a base verb. used to follows the normal past verb rules: it
becomes use to with the auxiliary(helping) verb did  in questions and
negative statements.

I used to help my mother.

I used to cook Italian food.

I used to drive a lorry.

2. Use
Used to is a unique expression in English. Its form and function are similar to a modal
(i.e., it gives extra information about the verb and is followed by a base verb). Used
to shows that an action was performed repeatedly in the past, but is no longer
performed in the present. It is commonly( be shekel rayej) used when talking about
long periods in the past (e.g., childhood, school years, past job, etc.).

3. Examples
 I used to eat meat, but I don’t anymore.
 They used to study English every day in high school.
 Did you use to play video games when you were a child?
 Did my sister use to sing when she was little? I forget.
 I didn’t use to play the piano as a child, but I took lessons later on.
 My teacher didn’t use to give us any homework. Now we get homework
every day!
Maryam:

+: I used to visit Safari park when I was young.

-: I didn’t use to watch TV when I used to come back from school.

Mohammad:

+: I used to smoke Shisha ten years ago./When I was 20 years old.

-: I didn’t use to drink alcohol when I had a breathing problem. ( brief = mokhtasar )

4. Tricky Points
 used to + base verb is NOT the same as the past participle of the verb use followed by
an infinitive verb! 

examples:

 He used to work out every day. (Form: used to + base verb. Meaning: He worked

out often in the past but doesn’t  anymore.)
 This machine is used to make student ID cards. (Form: use (present passive) +
infinitive verb. Meaning: Making student ID cards is the machine’s  function.)
 When use indicates the function of something, it is almost always in the passive
voice. Tell students that if they see the be verb before used, it is likely indicating
function, not a past habit/routine.

I am used to cooking.  man adat kardam be in kar

My phone is used to show errors.  kare gooshim ineke hey error neshoon.

Mohammad:

I am used to looking at my phone.

Maryam:

I am used to cleaning my house.

5. Fun Activity
pair activity: draw two columns on a piece of paper. One column has the title “When I
was a child…” and the other says “Now…” 

Ask your partner questions about the topics and write down the answers. (E.g., “What did you
use to eat when you were a child? What do you like to eat now?”) Answer the questions about
your childhood using used  to!

When I was a child……. Now……

Used to Am/is/are + used to

Q: What did you use to do when you were 17 Q: What do you like to play?/ What are you
years old? used to doing now?
A: I used to play football. A: I am used to dancing.
Q: Where did you use to visit when you were Q: How do you ride a bike? It looks very hard.
a child?
A: I used to visit the zoo. A: I’m used to riding a bike.

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Curious = konjkav

I lost some weight. My weight was going down.

I can’t breathe well.

Exaggerating = eghragh kardan

Recently = be tazegi

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Writing task:

Write about a memory from what you used to do and you don’t do now. ( It can be imaginary.)

Maryam:

I used to dance 10 years ago and I left it because I was so lazy. I used to read a book and now I don’t do
that because I have to do another work and I don’t have enough time. I ignore a lot of my plans and I
want to start a new life with more positive energy in the new year.
Mohamad:

I used to play with cards when I was a child.

I didn’t use to watch a horror movie when I was a child.

I used to walk to school. ( walk to somewhere => means go to somewhere on foot. )

I used to do jigsaw when I was 10 years old.

I am used to watching news every day.  Now

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Free discussion