How to

break
habits
 Talking about past habits or actions
Read the sentences below. Pay attention to the usage of 'used to' and 'would'.
Is there any difference in meaning or they are interchangeable?

I used to live in the countryside, and I would ride my bike every day. However, since moving to the city, I don't ride my bike as often.

Read and discuss the rules below. Create your own examples for each case.

Used to do sth Would do sth

is used to talk about habitual and repeated actions and states in
the past that are no longer true or are no longer happening. I used to
play the guitar, but I don't anymore. (I no longer play the guitar.)
can be used with stative verbs such as love, be, understand, and
feel. When I was a student, I used to love sleeping in on the weekends.
To make a negative sentence, use didn’t use to. I didn't use to like
broccoli, but now I do.
To make a question, use did you use to? Did you use to play soccer
when you were younger?
is used to talk about past habits or repeated actions that may or may
not still be happening. I would play the guitar every day after school. (It's
not clear whether I still play the guitar or not.)
is not used with stative verbs such as love, be, understand, and feel.
is often used to talk about things from the past with nostalgia.
is often used with "always" to emphasize a past habit or action. She
would always arrive late for class.
We form negative sentences by adding not to would. I wouldn’t eat
bacon for the world when I was a kid. But would is rarely used in
negative form to talk about past habits or events.
To form a question, just put would before the subject of the
sentence. Would you stay up all night when you were in high school?
 used to or would?
Read the following sentences and choose the correct variant (used to/would) that best fits the context .
Sometimes more than one variant is possible.

1. When I was a child, I (used to/would) eat ice cream every day.
2. My grandma (used to/would) always knit me sweaters for my birthday when I was
a child. It was so sweet.
3. When I was in college, I (used to/would) stay up late studying for exams.
4. I (used to/would) share an apartment with a friend, but now I have my own place.
5. My grandfather (used to/would) be a teacher, but now he's retired.
6. I (used to/would) have a lot of free time, but now I'm always busy.
7. Last winter, my father (used to/would) shovel the driveway every morning before
going to work, so he was always late.
8. My friends and I (used to/would) stay up all night watching movies and eating
junk food during sleepovers. I miss those days.
9. When I was in high school, I (used to/would) be afraid of public speaking.
10. My grandfather (used to/would) know all the constellations in the sky.
11. I (used to/would) hate going to my piano lessons, but now I realize how lucky I
was. My teacher (used to/would) always patiently teach me and encourage me to
practice.
 Talking about present habits
Look at the pictures and sentences below. What is the difference in meaning?
Which verb form do we use after be used to/get used to?

I am used to living in a noisy city. I am getting used to living in a noisy city.

 be used to and get used to doing sth

I am used to living in a noisy city. I am getting used to living in a noisy city.

The person has been living in the noisy city for some The person has recently started living in the noisy city and is
time and is already accustomed to the noise. still in the process of becoming accustomed to the noise.
We can also use this structure with a noun. We can also use this structure with a noun.
I‘m not used to this cold and rainy weather. I‘m getting used to this cold and rainy weather.
 be used to or get used to doing sth
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of be used to or get used to..
1. Sarah moved to Japan two months ago. At first, she found it difficult to understand the language
and culture, but she ............................................. it really fast.
2. My grandparents live in the countryside, so they ............................................. going to bed early and
waking up at dawn.
3. Sarah has been working from home for the past few years, and she ............................................. the
routine of waking up and starting work in her home office.
4. Many people who move to big cities have a hard time ............................................. the noise and
constant activity.
5. My grandmother has been using a typewriter for over 40 years. She .............................................
typing on a computer.
6. After moving to a new country, it took me a few weeks to ............................................. the new food
and cuisine.
7. Maria has always been afraid of heights. She recently started taking flying lessons to overcome her
fear. She is slowly ............................................. being up in the air and feels more comfortable every
time she goes up in the plane.
8. Maria moved to Paris five years ago and she.............................................the French lifestyle now.
9. I used to hate coffee, but now I .............................................drinking it every morning.
10. At first, the new student had a hard time understanding the teacher's accent, but he eventually
............................................. it.
let's play!
Play in teams or player VS player.
Take turns completing the sentences and have a battle.
For each battle the winner gets a point.
The player/team with more points wins.

Choose a circle you would like to open and point at it.

Read the task and complete it. CLICK on the circle to
see what you get (rock/ paper/ scissors).
 Let's talk!
Do you think it's
What are some things Are you used to the What are some habits
difficult for people to
you used to do as a climate in this area, or you're used to doing in
get used to living in a
child that you don't do did it take some time the morning to start
new country? Why or
anymore? to adjust? your day?
why not?

Are you used to using

What are some things Do you think it's easier
technology, or does it
you used to be afraid of to get used to change
take you a while to
that you're not afraid as you get older or
figure out new
of anymore? when you're younger?
gadgets?
 Extra task
Complete the sentences with used to/get used to/be used to
1. When I was a teenager, I _________________ dress up for Halloween, but not anymore.
2. At first, I was really nervous about driving in Vancouver, but now I
_________________it.
3. I don't think I'll ever _________________the rain in Vancouver.
4. Mike is Chinese, so he ________________ speaking English in the office.
5. The smell of fish is awful, but you'll _________________ it after a couple of months od
work.
6. There are some things in this life that you'll never _________________.
7. It will take a while for the office staff to _________________ the new computer
software.
8. Two years ago, the students _________________ four hours a week of language lessons,
but now they have three hours.
9. She _________________ hard work. She grew up in a very poor family.
10. My children _________________ eating hamburgers, but I don't think I'll ever get used
to eating them.
11. People from Africa _________________ hot weather because of the dry and hot climate
there.
12. I wasn't happy about working the evening shift, but I _________________ it now.
13. When I was starting to write, I _________________ think I would never be as good as
Margaret Atwood.
14. Mr. Black _________________ do lots of interviews when he was the mayor of
Vancouver.
15. He never _________________ flying a helicopter, even after years of working as a co-
pilot.
 Idioms and expressions about habits
Can you guess the meaning of the highlighted idioms in the sentences below?

My grandfather is a creature of habit; he wakes up
at the same time every day and goes for a walk
around the park.
Even though he knows that smoking is harmful to
I'm trying to get into the habit of exercising every
his health, he can't quit, because old habits die
morning before work.
hard.

I noticed my son was starting to eat too much junk

It was hard for him to kick/break/drop the habit of My grandmother is set in her ways and
food, so I nipped it in the bud and started offering
biting his nails, but he finally managed to do it. refuses to try any new technology.
healthier snacks.

Now match them with their meanings. Write the letters in the boxes next to the sentences.

a.refers to a person who is unwilling to change their habits or beliefs.

b.to stop doing something that has become a regular routine.
c.refers to a person who has a fixed routine and does things in the same way every day.
d.to start doing something regularly until it becomes a habit.
e.it is difficult to change a long-standing habit.
f.to stop something before it becomes a problem or habit.
 Idioms and expressions about habits
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate expression or idiom. Make any necessary changes.

1. Sarah's been going to the gym every morning at 6 am for the past five years. She's definitely drop a habit
a ............................................
2. My grandfather still uses a flip phone and refuses to upgrade to a smartphone. He's get into a habit

............................................ and doesn't like change. set in sb's ways

3. ............................................ is not easy, but it's necessary to achieve success.
4. After years of smoking, it was difficult for him to ............................................ his habit. a creature of habit

5. When I noticed myself constantly reaching for sugary snacks, I knew I had to nip sth in the bud
............................................ before it got worse.
6. If you don't .................. procrastination ............................................, it will become a habit
that's hard to break.
7. It's important to ......................... healthy ..................................... from a young age to maintain
a healthy lifestyle.
8. Sometimes you need to ........................... bad ............................ to make room for good ones.
9. He's been wearing the same style of clothing for years. He's
definitely............................................
10. I tend to order the same dish every time I go to my favorite restaurant - I guess I'm just a
............................................ .
quizlet set
Revise the words and
complete different activities
to memorize them even
better.
THANK
you!