HOMEWORK: 28 Sept (SELF-STUDY – PUBLIC HOLIDAY …)

GRAMMAR

TENSES: “Used to“ vs. “Would“

THEORY:


USED TO

This often contrasts with the present. The contrast may be stated or understood.

/ used to go swimming a lot (but I don't now).


The negative form is either:

/ didn't use to or / used not to (rare for some speakers).

(The form / didn't used to may also be found. This is usually considered incorrect, unless we
consider used to as an unchanging semi-modal form.)


The question form is: ‘Did you use to…?'. When asking a closed question you put did/didn't in front
of the subject followed by use to, you cannot use would.

Did you use to go out with my sister?

Didn't we use to go to the same school?


There is no present time reference possible.


WOULD

This is used to describe repeated actions, not states. It describes a habitual activity which was
typical of a person: Every week he'd buy his mother a bunch of flowers.


Used to would also be possible here. Compare:

I used to like cowboy films.

Would is not possible here. Would is more common in written language and often occurs in

reminiscences.


Basic summary:

USED TO - used for a repeated action or state in the past
WOULD - used for a repeated action in the past (NOT for a state)


EXERCISE:

Correct the sentence, if necessary and explain why a sentence is correct/incorrect.


1)      Yesterday I used to buy a new car.

2)      When I was I child, I used to play football every Saturday.

3)      My mother would live in India when she was young.

4)      After finishing medical school, John trained as a cardiologist.

5)      My friends and I would go out to a disco every weekend in the summer.

6)      My grandfather says winters would be colder when he was young.

7)      In 2006, she finished university and got a job in a bank.

8)      When my father was young, he used to have long hair!

9)      I would spend the money my mother gave me on crisps and sweets.

10)  When I was a student, I would go climbing at weekends with my friends.

11)  My mother used to be a big fan of The Beatles but my father didn't use to like them.

12)  Britain would have high unemployment in the early 'eighties.


You may also study the theory at: http://www.zozanga.com/grammar/usedtotext2.htm


USED TO x GET USED TO x BE USED TO

THEORY:

USED TO+infinitive , GET USED TO+ gerund, BE USED TO+gerund.

Be used to

Be used to is used to show previous experience and familiarity with a certain situation. For
example:
- I am used to living abroad. - I have previous experience living abroad, so it's not difficult for
me.
- Jane isn't used to living abroad. - She doesn't have much experience living abroad, or if she
does it is still difficult for her.
- Paul is used to learning languages. - Paul has learnt languages before, so he's good at it.
- Carol has never studied a foreign language, so she's not used to it. - Carol doesn't have
previous experience learning a foreign language.

Get used to

Get used to is used for the process of acquiring experience and ability. In the beginning we are
less experienced, then we get used to something - we go through a process of gaining experience.
For example:
- I wasn't used to living abroad, but I got used to it. - I didn't have expeirence living abroad,
but I grew in experience until I was happy living abroad.
- I didn't like banans, but I got used to them. - In the beginning I didn't like bananas, but after
a while I learnt to like them.

To

In the structure be / get used to, to is a preposition, not part of the to-infinitive. For example:
- I'm used to cooking for myself. OK
- I'm used to cook for myself. Incorrect - "to cook" is a to-infinitive and can't be used here.

Used to - be/get used to

Used to is a completely different structure from be / get used to. Used to is for past habit, be
used to means to get accustomed to something.

EXERCISE:

Choose the correct sentence.

a.- We aren´t used to listening to that kind of music

    We arent´used to listen to that kind of music


b.- She will soon get used to work here

     She will soon get used to working here


c.- I used to working for that company

    I used to work for that company


d.-We never got used to getting up so early

       We never got used to get up so early


e.-We used to getting up early but  we are retirednow and  we don´t need to

   We used to get up early but we are retirednow   and we don´t need to


f.-When she moved to France she had to get used to drive on the right

     When she moved to France she had to get used to driving on the right


g.-We couldn´t sleep very well in Japan, we aren´t used to sleeping on the floor

    We couldn´t sleep very well in Japan, we aren´t used to sleep on the floor


h.-We used to travelling a lot before having children

      We used to travel a lot before having children


i.-The most difficult thing was to get used to eating such spicy food

     The most difficult thing was to get used to eat such spicy food


j.-  I am used to working on the night shift

      I am used to work on the night shift