UNIT
Used to / Would
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USED TO Affirmative I used to go. You used to go. He / She / It used to go. We used to go. You used to go. They used to go.
Negative I didn’t use to go. You didn’t use to go. He / She / It didn’t use to go. We didn’t use to go. You didn’t use to go. They didn’t use to go.
Interrogative Did I use to go? Did you use to go? Did he / she / it use to go? Did we use to go? Did you use to go? Did they use to go?
Short answers Affirmative
Yes, I / you / he / she / it / we / you / they did.
Negative
No, I / you / he / she / it / we / you / they didn’t.
USAGE AND EXAMPLES • Used to is found in sentences describing a past habit, or situation that is no longer true: it can be used for both actions and situations or states. Study these examples: I used to be very shy but then I met my best friends Lisa and Carol. My brother goes to the theatre every two weeks but he didn’t use to like it as a teenager. What did you use to do when you were in elementary school? • Would can also be used to describe regular habits or activities of the past and it can often substitute used to. It is normally only used in the affirmative. When I was younger I loved walking in the park near home. Every morning, before going to work, I would go (used to go) for a stroll with my dog and enjoy the quiet. USED TO or WOULD • Remember that would cannot be used to describe states or situations. See the examples below: My brother used to be very touchy as a child. Every time he got a lower mark than me he would stop (or: used to stop) talking to me for a few days. My grandma was a great woman. She didn’t use to be very talkative but she would always give you a hand if you needed help.
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Do these sentences refer to past habits / situations that aren’t true now (A) or not (B)?
1 I used to get up late on Sundays when I was younger. 2 I got up at 7 last Sunday. 3 Where were you working in the 1980s? 4 My sister didn’t use to wear jeans but now she loves them. 5 My sister wasn’t wearing jeans when she came over. 6 Did you use to be a bright student at school? 7 When it rained we would take out a board game and play all afternoon. 8 I used a lot of flour to make this cake. 9 What would you like to do? 10 I often invited them over but they would always say no.
A B
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