Unit 29: Used to - review
Has Finn really given up chocolate?
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- 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
- 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
- 3 If or whether?
- 4 5 ways to use 'would'
- 5 Let and allow
- 6 Passive voice
- 7 Unless
- 8 Mixed conditionals
- 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
- 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
- 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
- 12 The continuous passive
- 13 Future perfect
- 14 Need + verb-ing
- 15 Have something done
- 16 Wish
- 17 Word stress
- 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
- 19 Passive reporting structures
- 20 The subjunctive
- 21 When and if
- 22 Inversion
- 23 Phrasal verbs
- 24 The future
- 25 Modals in the past
- 26 Narrative tenses
- 27 Phrasal verb myths
- 28 Conditionals review
- 29 Used to - review
- 30 Linking words of contrast
Session 1
Finn says he's given up chocolate, but we're not sure we believe him! But we do believe he can explain how to use used to in 90 seconds...
Activity 1
English Class
I used to love chocolate!
Could you give up chocolate? Finn claims he has, but we're not sure we believe him. Anyway, he talks about the food he used to love to eat in this video, and he explains how and when to use used to.
Watch the video and complete the activity
Finn
Hi, this is Finn with another BBC English Class. Now, today we are looking at used to. Right, let's learn a few things about used to, in just 90 seconds, as always.
So, first of all, why do we use used to? It's for when we're talking about things we did regularly in the past. Things we used to do regularly in the past. So, for example, me, I used to eat chocolate every day. I used to eat so much chocolate. These days, of course, I don't - you know, that's it - we're using used to to contrast the past and the present. So, I used to eat chocolate every day, now I rarely eat it. I never eat it. I never eat it at all. There we are. So, in terms of form, you'll notice that used to we've got the d on the end, it's the simple past here, form, and then we add the infinitive on the end: I used to... eat, I used to... love, I used to... enjoy chocolate every day.
Now, when we're talking about a question or a negative, then we don't have this d on the bottom. Use to. I didn't use to eat chocolate every day. Did you use to eat chocolate every day? There we go.
One last point: pronunciation. Did you notice how I said it? Generally when we're speaking fast we just say used to (sounds like: usta). Like that. Not used... to, but used to. I used to eat chocolate every day. And perfect timing, there we go. And cut it there Rob, if you're happy?
Rob
Yeah, that's good, thanks. Well done, Finn.
Finn
Great. I think I've earned this, haven't I?
Rob
Finn!
Finn
You still recording?
Summary
We use used to to talk about things we did regularly in the past.
- I used to drink a lot of coffee.
We often use used to to contrast behaviours in the past and the present.
- I used to drink a lot of coffee, but these days I prefer wine.
Form
The positive form is subject + used to + infinitive.
- I used to eat a lot of meat.
The negative form is: subject + didn't use to + infinitive
- We didn't use to have to be home before dark.
The question is: Did + subject + use to + infinitive
- Did you use to play in the streets by yourself?
To do
Time to test yourself with a simple quiz. Used to or use to?
Used to / use to
5 Questions
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
Is this is question or a negative?Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
This looks like a negative question.Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
You're replying to a question here.Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
Is this is question or negative?Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
This one looks like a question!Question 1 of 5
used to
use to
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
Used to / use to
5 Questions
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
Is this is question or a negative?Question 1 of 5
Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
This looks like a negative question.Question 2 of 5
Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
You're replying to a question here.Question 3 of 5
Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
Is this is question or negative?Question 4 of 5
Help
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Hint
This one looks like a question!Question 5 of 5
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
End of Session 1
That's it for this session. So, Finn couldn't stop himself. How about you? Is there anything you used to do, but have stopped now?
Next
Join us for News Review as we discuss a major story in the news, and the language you need to understand it.
Session Grammar
Used to
To talk about things we did regularly in the past.
- I used to drink a lot of coffee.
To contrast behaviours in the past and the present.
- I used to drink a lot of coffee, but these days I prefer wine.
Form
Positive: used to + infinitive.
- I used to eat a lot of meat.
Negative: subject + didn't use to + infinitive
- We didn't use to have to be home before dark.
Question: Did + subject + use to + infinitive
- Did you use to play in the streets by yourself?