„USED TO“ [ju:stǝ]

The phrase USED TO is followed by the infinitive of the main verb such as:
He used to go to the cinema on Fridays.
As children we used to play together.
They used to live in the city, now they have a beautiful country house.
It usually expresses repeated action in the past.
There is also an element of comparing which we use in order to express the
difference between the past and the present.
I used to drink coffee (but I do not drink coffee anymore).
The past is not usually accurately specified (only vague expressions are used)
He used to smoke a pipe when he was young.
He used to play football when he was at the college.
Negative forms are NEVER USED TO, DIDN’T USE TO:
He never used to go to the pub He didn’t use to go to the pub.
Question is created using the auxiliary verb DO → DID:
Did you use to live here? Didn’t you use to live here?
Question tags:
You used to smoke, didn’t you? You never used to smoke, did you?
PAST XXXXXXXXX PRESENT

A. Complete the sentences: D. Transform the sentences using the

“used to” phrase if possible:
1 I ________________ before school, but now I swim after school.
1 She drank only red wine.
2 He ______________ watch TV much, but he does now. (not) 2 We were great hockey fans.
3 Tom drinks tea now, but ________________ coffee. 3 I lived in London in 2010.
4 I called them every Sunday.
4 I ___________________ play basketball at school. (never) 5 There was a bus stop here.
5 Mary eats fish now, but she ________________ it. (not) 6 He went for a walk last week.
6 They _____________ like black coffee but now they do. (not)
E. For further practice refer to the
following songs:
B. Cross the sentence where used to can’t be used:
1 Did Karl use to go to the cinema last night? This Used To Be My Playground
2 Tim used to be much fitter when he played volleyball. by Madonna
3 Lin used to spend a lot of money on that new ring she bought 2 days ago. Somebody I Used To Know
4 Kate didn’t use to come to school yesterday because she was sick. by Gotye
5 Lucy used to read a lot, but she doesn’t have time now. F. Use pictures to practice:
6 Did you use to go to the seaside for holidays when you were a child? PAST NOW

C. Write the correct sentences:

1 She / love playing badminton before she hurt her shoulder.
_______________________________________________________
2 I / have short hair when I was a teenager.
_______________________________________________________
3 Luke / not have a car.
She used to have shorter blond hair
_______________________________________________________
but now she has long brown hair.
iSLCollective.com
 ANSWER KEY:

A. Complete the sentences:

1 I used to swim before school, but now I swim after school.
2 He didn’t used to watch TV much, but he does now.
3 Tom drinks tea now, but used to drink coffee.
4 I never used to play basketball at school.
5 Mary eats fish now, but she didn’t use to eat it.
6 They didn’t used to like black coffee but now they do.

B. Cross the sentence where used to can’t be used:

1 Did Karl use to go to the cinema last night?  last night
2 Tim used to be much fitter when he played volleyball. 
3 Lin used to spend a lot of money on that new ring she bought 2 days ago.  2days ago
4 Kate didn’t use to come to school yesterday because she was sick.  yesterday
5 Lucy used to read a lot, but she doesn’t have time now. 
6 Did you use to go to the seaside for holidays when you were a child? 

C. Write the correct sentences:

1 She used to love playing badminton before she hurt her shoulder.
2 I used to have short hair when I was a teenager.
3 Luke didn’t use to have a car.

D. Transform the sentences using the “used to” phrase if possible:

1 She used to drink only red wine.
2 We used to be great hockey fans.
3 I lived in London in 2010.  not possible – too specific time reference
4 I used to call them every Sunday.
5 There used to be a bus stop here.
6 He went for a walk last week.  not possible – too specific time reference

iSLCollective.com
PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

„USED TO“ [ju:stǝ]

The phrase USED TO is followed by the infinitive of the main verb such as:
He used to go to the cinema on Fridays.
As children we used to play together.
They used to live in the city, now they have a beautiful country house.
It usually expresses repeated action in the past.
There is also an element of comparing which we use in order to express the difference between the
past and the present.
I used to dink coffee (but I do not drink coffee anymore).
The past is not usually accurately specified (only vague expressions are used)
He used to smoke a pipe when he was young.
He used to play football when he was at the college.
Negative forms are NEVER USED TO, DIDN’T USE TO:
He never used to go to the pub He didn’t use to go to the pub.
Question is created using the auxiliary verb DO → DID:
Did you use to live here? Didn’t you use to live here?
Question tags:
You used to smoke, didn’t you? You never used to smoke, did you?
PAST XXXXXXXXX PRESENT
When I was a child

D. Complete the sentences: G. Transform the sentences using the

“used to” phrase if possible:
7 I ________________ before school, but now I swim after school. 7 She drank only red wine.
8 He ______________ watch TV much, but he does now. (not) 8 We were great hockey fans.
9 I lived in London in 2010.
9 Tom drinks tea now, but ________________ coffee.
10 I called them every Sunday.
10 I ___________________ play basketball at school. (never) 11 There was a bus stop here.
11 Mary eats fish now, but she ________________ it. (not) 12 He went for a walk last week.

12 They _____________ like black coffee but now they do. (not) H. For further practice refer to the
following songs:
E. Cross the sentence where used to can’t be used:
7 Did Karl use to go to the cinema last night? This Used To Be My Playground
8 Tim used to be much fitter when he played volleyball. by Madonna
9 Lin used to spend a lot of money on that new ring she bought 2 days ago. Somebody I Used To Know
10 Kate didn’t use to come to school yesterday because she was sick. by Gotye
11 Lucy used to read a lot, but she doesn’t have time now.
12 Did you use to go to the seaside for holidays when you were a child? I. Use pictures to practice:
PAST NOW
F. Write the correct sentences:
4 She / love playing badminton before she hurt her shoulder.
_______________________________________________________
5 I / have short hair when I was a teenager.
_______________________________________________________
6 Luke / not have a car.
She used to have shorter blond hair
_______________________________________________________
but now she has long brown hair.

iSLCollective.com