Unit 25: I used to … – Full Textbook

A. Dave used to work in a factory. Now he works in a supermarket.

PAST

NOW

Dave used to work in a factory → he worked in a factory before but he doesn’t work there now

he used to work → he works
past habit → present habit

B. You can say I used to work … / she used to have … / they used to be … etc.

I/you/we/they	used to	be work have play etc.
he/she/it	used to

When I was a child, I used to like chocolate.

I used to read a lot of books but I don’t read much these days.

Liz has got short hair now but it used to be very long.

They used to live in the same street as us, so we often used to see them. But we don’t see them very often these days.

Ann used to have a piano but she sold it a few years ago.

The negative is I didn’t use to …
When I was a child I didn’t use to like tomatoes.

The question is did you use to …?
Where did you use to live before you came here?

C. We use used to … only for the past.

You cannot say ‘I use to …’ (present).

I used to play tennis. These days I play golf. (not ‘I use to play golf’)

We usually get up early. (not ‘We use to get up early’)

Examples

Dave used to work in a factory. Now he works in a supermarket.

I used to like chocolate when I was a child.

Liz used to have very long hair.

I didn’t use to like tomatoes.

Where did you use to live?

I used to play tennis. Now I play golf.

Exercises 25.1 – 25.3

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25.1 Look at the pictures. Complete the sentences with used to …

She used to have long hair.

He football.

She a taxi driver.

They in the country.

He a lot of free time.

This building a hotel.

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25.2 Karen works very hard and has very little free time. A few years ago, things were different.

Karen a few years ago:
Yes, I go swimming every day and I play volleyball.
Yes, most evenings.
Yes, the guitar.
Yes, I read a lot.
Yes, I go away two or three times a year.

Karen now:
I work very hard in my job. I don’t have any free time.

Write sentences about Karen with used to …

She used to go swimming every day.
She volleyball.
She the guitar.
She a lot.
She most evenings.
She two or three times a year.

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25.3 Complete these sentences. Use used to or the present simple (I play / he lives etc.).

I used to play tennis. I stopped playing a few years ago.
‘Do you do any sport?’ ‘Yes, I basketball.’
‘Have you got a car?’ ‘No, I one but I sold it.’
George a waiter. Now he’s the manager of a hotel.
‘Do you go to work by car?’ ‘Sometimes but most days I by train.’
When I was a child, I never meat, but I eat it now.
Mary loves watching TV. She TV every evening.
We near the airport but we moved to the city centre a few years ago.
Normally I start work at 7 o’clock, so I up very early.
What games when you were a child?