Used to

  • A2 · Elementary
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

used to for past habits and states, true then but not now: We used to call our friends on the landline. I didn't use to have a camera. Did you use to…? From a family remembering the 1990s to the student, very old in 2070, telling a teenager about life today.

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used todidn't use toDid you use to…?

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: life before smartphonesReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find used toGrammar exercise
  6. 6How used to worksGrammar rule
  7. 7used to, or not?Grammar exercise
  8. 8My first jobGrammar exercise
  9. 9Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  10. 10Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12The year 2070Speaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: an old photoGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which is right?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: ask someone olderDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. What did you usually do after school when you were ten?
  2. Do you have any photos on paper at home? Where are they?
  3. How many apps do you open every day, do you think?

Grammar rule

How used to works

used to + verb

Example
PositiveMy uncle used to drive a taxi.
NegativeWe didn't use to own a car.
QuestionDid you use to walk to school? — Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
A past stateThis parking lot used to be a park. There used to be a bookstore on our corner.

Use: past habits (they happened again and again) and past states (they were true for a long time), when they are not true now.

Form: used to + the base verb, the same for every person. After did and didn't, write use to (no d): Did you use to…? I didn't use to… (You will also see didn't used to. Some dictionaries accept it, but didn't use to is the safe choice in writing.)

Not for now. For habits now, use the present simple: I usually walk to work. (not I use to walk to work)
Not for one time, and not for how long or how many times in total: We moved to Ohio in 2010. (not We used to move…) He played in a band for three months. (not He used to play in a band for three months) How often is fine: We used to eat out every Friday.
No be before it: not I was used to play, but I used to play.
The past simple can also be about a past habit (When I was a kid, I walked to school). used to makes it clear that it is not true now.
used to and use to sound the same: YOOS-tuh, with an s sound.

Teach it live with video and a whiteboard, or print it: the PDF has every slide, the homework and the answers.

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