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Habits in The Past Past SImple Used To PDF

The document discusses using the past simple and used to for describing habits and states in the past. [1] It explains that the past simple is used to describe things done regularly or states that were true in the past, often with a time expression. [2] Used to is used to talk about things that were true in the past but are no longer the case now. [3] It provides examples and notes about how used to cannot specify a time period and the negative and question forms drop the final 'd'.

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Ebru D.
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141 views8 pages

Habits in The Past Past SImple Used To PDF

The document discusses using the past simple and used to for describing habits and states in the past. [1] It explains that the past simple is used to describe things done regularly or states that were true in the past, often with a time expression. [2] Used to is used to talk about things that were true in the past but are no longer the case now. [3] It provides examples and notes about how used to cannot specify a time period and the negative and question forms drop the final 'd'.

Uploaded by

Ebru D.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Grammar:

Habits in the Past:

Past Simple & Used To


Past Simple something done
regularly in the past
1. We can use the past simple to describe past habits, or
past states. state verbs: be, feel, love, like, own
She did the washing on Sundays. (habit)
I loved popcorn when I was a kid. (state)

She did the washing


on Sundays.

past I loved popcorn present


when I was a kid.
2. Often a time expression is added, for example every day, for
a year, now and then, sometimes, often etc etc:
de vez en cuando
Luke went fishing now and then when he was young.

She studied hard for many years when she was at


university.
a menudo
I played football often when I was a teenager.
TAKE NOTE:
To describe something that happened only once in the past (not a
habit in the past), we add a particular point in time to our past
simple statement:
Jack climbed Mount Everest last May.
I got my drivers licence two months ago.

Jack climbed Mount I got my drivers licence


Everest last May. two months ago.

past present
Used To
1. We use used to when we talk about things/habits
that were true in the past but not anymore.

}
Hannah used to be a lawyer. These statements imply
the state or action was
My mother used to play squash every true in the past, but no
weekend. longer in the present.
Hannah used to
be a lawyer.

past My mother used to play present


squash every weekend.

TAKE NOTE: You can use used to with state AND action verbs
2. When using used to, we cannot specify an amount of time:
I used to own a motorcycle.
NOT
I used to own a motorcycle for two years.

Because of the time period for two years, the correct version
would be to use the past simple:

I owned a motorcycle for 2 years.


3. When we use the negative form of used to, it becomes
didn’t use to.
You have to drop the final ‘d’:

Alfred didn’t use to like whisky, but now he loves it!


NOT
Alfred didn’t used to like whisky, but now he loves it!
4. To ask a question with used to we use the following
structure: the words which
come after the verb
Did + noun + use to + verbal phrase

Again, you have to drop the final ‘d’:

Did the Smiths use to go to the coast every summer?


NOT
Did Lauren used to work in the French Embassy as a
diplomat?

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