TALKING ABOUT PAST HABITS

Karla: Hey Ivan, how ya doin ? Ivan: Great! Karla: You seem very enthusiastic! Whats up? Ivan: I made an important decision. Im changing my lifestyle! Karla: Hows that? Ivan: I quit smoking and I enrolled in a gym. Karla: Wow! Thats a big change! Ivan: Yeah! I had to. I used to smoke twenty cigarettes a day. Im feeling quite better now. Karla: Good for you!

Used to expresses past habits and long-lasting situations which are now finished or different. Ex: I used to get up at six, but now I get up at eight.
Used to can also describe past tenses. Ex: I used to own a house. (I owned a house once) *Note these forms of used to: I didnt use to drink beer. Did you use to swim every day?
Used to is only past. For present habits use Simple Present. See the contrast:
I used to smoke like a chimney. (past) My sister smokes occasionally. (present)

Activities

ACTIVITY 1
Complete with the most suitable word:

1.) She used to _____ with dolls when she a child.

2.) They didn't _______ to play any sports. 3.) He didn't use to_________ a scrapbook. 4.) When they________ younger, they used to ______ to the beach, _______ bikes and ______ comics. 5.) I used to ________ very shy, but I_______ not anymore. 6.) After school, my friend and I used to _______ chess and hide-and-seek.

7.) I used to_______ my vacation at a summer camp with my friends.

8.) I used to_______ a pet when I _____ 5 years old. Now

Activity 2A
Practice asking your partner if they used to have the following habits:
Ex: A: Did you use to smoke. B: No, I. didnt. Did you? A: Yeah, I used to smoke a lot.

Smoke cigarettes Bite your nails Pick your nose Suck your thumb Twirl your hair Spit on the street Pick a fight Litter (throw trash on the street)

Your Partner s Life

Activity 2B

Talk about your partners life, what he/she used to do, what he/she didnt use to do, etc

10 years ago
Go to discotheques Eat junk food every day Go jogging Travel abroad

Now
Go to dinner parties

Eat healthy food

Take the kids to school Work at home

Work on weekends
Go to university Sleep late

Go to the beach
Get up early every day Cook dinner on weekends

Play video games

Play soccer

Play with children

Pay bills

ACTIVITY 3A
What are some good habits you used to have? What happened? Why did you stop? Ex: I used to eat breakfast every day. Now I maybe eat a chocolate bar. I guess I stopped eating breakfast when I moved out of my parents house.

ACTIVITY 3B
Think about how your habits/activities have changed over the years. What events or circumstances caused the changes?
(for example: graduating from high school, college; starting a new job; getting married; having children, etc.)

What did you use to do before the change, what did you do after? Why?
(example: Before I came to Chile, I used to drive to the casino and gamble. Now, I cant drive because I dont have a car, and its too expensive to go to the casino on my salary.)

ACTIVITY 3C
Talk about what your life used to be like in college (university). Think about what you did in your free time. Where did you go? What did you do? What time did you wake up? etc. What did you like about it? What didnt you like?

Activity 3D
Lets imagine that at one point in your life you abused alcohol or drugs. This brought many problems to your life, but youre rehabilitated now. In pairs discuss the things you used to do and the things you do now that youre on the wagon (clean).