Used to
We use the structure of “used to” (is not a tenses, it is a special structure) to describe or
refer to a past situation or past routines, habits or states that no longer exist in the present
time.
Look at these examples.
past present
She used to work in a shop. Now she works in a bank.
He used to watch a lot of TV. Now he doesn't watch much TV.
They used to be married. Now they are divorced.
There used to be a cinema here. Now there is a supermarket here.
I didn't use to go swimming. Now I go swimming.
Did you use to smoke?
Structure:
Positive : Subject + used to + infinitive /base form + complement past / time expression in
past
Examples: I used to eat a lot of candies + when i was younger/ when I was child/ when i was
5 years old
Negative: Subject + didn’t + USE to + verb bs/infinitive + time expression
Example: I didn’t use to eat a lot of candies + when I was young
Interrogative: Did + subject + use to + verb + complement in past?
Did you use to eat a lot of candies when you were a child ? Yes, i did/ yes I used to
No i didn’t / no i didn’t use to
Wh + did + subject + use to + verb infinitive + complement ?
Why did you use to practice swimming when you was young? I used to swim when i was
young because my mom forced me to take lessons
When I was child I used to take ballet classes, now I prefer language classes
did you use to be a good studwn
Practice:
Make an affirmative sentence, negative sentence or question using ‘used to + infinitive’:
1. I / live in a flat when I was a child.
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2. We / go to the beach every summer?
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3. She / love eating chocolate, but now she hates it.
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4. He / not / smoke.
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5. I / play tennis when I was at school.
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6. She / be able to speak French, but she has forgotten it all.
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7. He / play golf every weekend?
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8. They both / have short hair.
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9. Julie / study Portuguese.
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10. I / not / hate school.
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Rewrite the sentences below using “used to”.
1. Last month, I rode my bicycle to school. Now, I don’t ride my bicycle to school.
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2. Ten years ago, I studied Japanese. Now, I don’t study Japanese.
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3. Before, I didn’t do exercise. Now, I do exercise.
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4. Last year, my classmate didn’t study hard. Now, he studies hard.
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5. A long time ago, people didn’t have electricity. Now, people have electricity.
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6. When I was young, I was lazy. Now, I’m not lazy.
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7. A long time ago, people didn’t have TV. Now, people have TV.
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8. When Sarah was younger, she was short. Now, Sarah is tall.
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