Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 36 · A2

I used to ...

I used to do something means I did it regularly in the past but I don't now. The negative is didn't use to, the question is did you use to, and there is no present form.

Start the lesson

14Steps · about 20 minutes

In this lesson

He used to work in a factoryA1 screen of questions
used to + base formB3 screens of questions
didn't use to, did you use to?C1 screen of questions
Only for the pastD3 screens of questions

Point A of 4

He used to work in a factory

Dave used to work in a factory. Now he works in a garden centre.

Dave used to work in a factory means he worked there before, but he doesn't work there now.

  • Kim used to drive a bus. Now she runs a café.

Point A · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with used to.

  1. I live in Hull, but now I live in York.

  2. Gemma play the piano. She stopped when she was twelve.

  3. This café be a bank.

Point B of 4

used to + base form

used to is the same for everybody: I used to be, she used to have, they used to live.

  • As a kid, I used to hate broccoli.
  • I used to go running a lot, but I hardly ever run now.
  • My dad is bald now, but he used to have curly hair.
  • They used to live on our street, so we used to see them a lot. We hardly see them now.
  • We used to have a caravan, but we got rid of it last year.

Point B · Exercise 36.1

Read the scenes and complete the sentences with used to.

  1. Example

    An old photo of a woman with very long hair. Today her hair is short.

    She used to have long hair.

    AnswerShe used to have long hair.

  2. An old photo of a man in football kit. Today he is sitting on the sofa.

    He football.

  3. An old photo of a woman beside a taxi. Today she works in an office.

    She a taxi driver.

  4. A family stands outside a flat in Leeds, holding a photo of a farmhouse from twenty years ago.

    We in the country.

Point B · Exercise 36.2 · part 1 of 2

Dan is a busy dad now and has no spare time. Before his children were born, life was different: he went climbing every weekend, played in a band, went to the pub most Fridays, painted, did a lot of baking and went abroad several times a year. Write sentences about Dan with used to.

  1. Example

    (climbing)

    He used to go climbing every weekend.

    AnswerHe used to go climbing every weekend.

  2. (band)

  3. (Fridays)

  4. (painting)

  5. (baking)

Point B · Exercise 36.2 · part 2 of 2

Dan is a busy dad now and has no spare time. Before his children were born, life was different: he went climbing every weekend, played in a band, went to the pub most Fridays, painted, did a lot of baking and went abroad several times a year. Write sentences about Dan with used to.

  1. (travel)

Point C of 4

didn't use to, did you use to?

The negative is I didn't use to. The question is did you use to ... ?

  • When I was little, I didn't use to like tomatoes.
  • Which school did you use to go to?

Point C · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with didn't use to or did ... use to.

  1. I like olives, but now I love them.

  2. you walk to school?

  3. We have a car when I was young.

Point D of 4

Only for the past

Used to is only for the past. There is no present I use to. For now, use the present simple.

  • I used to play the drums. Now I play the guitar. (not I use to play the guitar)
  • We usually eat at seven. (not We use to eat at seven)

Point D · Exercise 36.3 · part 1 of 3

Complete the sentences with used to or the present simple (I play, he lives and so on).

  1. Example

    I used to play the violin. I gave it up when I left school.

    AnswerI used to play the violin. I gave it up when I left school.

  2. "Do you do any sport?" "Yes, I basketball."

  3. "Have you got a car?" "No, I one, but I sold it."

  4. Ravi a trainee. Now he runs the whole department.

  5. "Do you cycle to college?" "Now and then, but usually I the bus."

Point D · Exercise 36.3 · part 2 of 3

Complete the sentences with used to or the present simple (I play, he lives and so on).

  1. As a teenager, I never salad, but I love it now.

  2. Mary loves watching telly. She it every evening.

  3. We near the airport, but we moved into town a few years ago.

  4. Normally I start work at seven, so I up very early.

Point D · Exercise 36.3 · part 3 of 3

Complete the sentences with used to or the present simple (I play, he lives and so on).

  1. What games you when you were a child?

Lesson 36 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: there is, there areBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. He used to work in a factory–Not checkedB. used to + base form–Not checkedC. didn't use to, did you use to?–Not checkedD. Only for the past–Not checked