Used to
I used to work in insurance but now I'm a teacher.
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The action happened in the past.
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It happened frequently.
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It does not happen now.
Verbs
Vocabulary - types of work / industries
Vocabulary - work places
Vocabulary - jobs
Explain - Used to
Past
Now
Future
I used to drink coffee.
Subject + used to + present form verb phrase
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The action happened in the past.
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It happened frequently.
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It does not happen now.
Past
Now
Future
My family used to go on holiday to Italy.
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The action happened in the past.
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It happened frequently.
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It does not happen now.
Past
Now
Future
My sister used to buy expensive shoes.
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The action happened in the past.
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It happened frequently.
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It does not happen now.
This action (buying expensive shoes) happened once. 'Used to' cannot be used.
Past
Now
Future
My mum used to have a cat.
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The action happened in the past.
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It happened frequently.
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It does not happen now.
This action (having a cat) is still happening. 'Used to' cannot be used.
Used to - practice
Subject + used to + work + in + type of work / industry
Subject + used to + work + in + a + place
Subject + used to + be + a + job title
Past
Now
Future
She used to work in medicine.
She used to work in a hospital.
She used to be a doctor.
Past
Now
Future
Answer - industry
He used to work in law.
Answer - place
He used to work in an office.
Answer - job
He used to be a solicitor.
Past
Now
Future
Answer - industry
He used to work in hospitality.
Answer - place
He used to work in a restaurant.
Answer - job
He used to be a waiter.
Past
Now
Future
Answer - industry
She used to work in retail.
Answer - place
She used to work in a shop.
Answer - job
She used to be a shop assistant.
Adding another clause
chef
architect
in banking
teacher
driver
in an office
I used to be a chef but now I'm an architect.
She used to work in banking but now she's a teacher.
He used to be a driver but now he works in an office.
Adding more information
Past
Now
Future
I used to drink coffee.
I used to drink coffee at work.
I used to drink coffee at home.
I used to drink coffee at 8am.
For 10 years I used to drink coffee.
I used to drink coffee every day.
I used to drink coffee every Saturday.
I used to drink coffee every day at work.
For 3 years I used to drink coffee every day at home and at work.
+ LOCATION CHUNK
+ TIME CHUNK
+ DURATION CHUNK
+ FREQUENCY CHUNK
Used to - Negative
Subject + did not + use to + present form verb phrase
NOTE: The 'd' has been dropped from 'used to'. In the negative is is 'use to'.
Past
Now
Future
I did not use to drink coffee.
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The action did not happen in the past.
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It did not happen frequently.
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It happens regularly now.
Past
Now
Future
I did not use to go to Japan on holiday.
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The action did not happen in the past.
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It did not happen frequently (here it happened once - this is not frequently).
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It happens regularly now.
Used to - Questions (?)
Did + subject + use to + present form verb phrase
Past
Now
Future
Did you use to drink coffee?
Past
Now
Future
Did you use to work in [industry]?
Did you use to work in a [place]?
Did you use to be a [job]?
Office Work
This is Alexander. He is a gardener. He has not always had that job.
Tom: Hi Alexander, nice to meet you. Before you were a gardener, what did you do?
Alexander: I used to work in an office.
Tom: ...and you didn't enjoy it?
Alexander: No, it was horrible. I was so busy I used to grab lunch at my desk.
Tom: Really? What else did you do?
Alexander: I used to answer the phone all day and write long emails.
Tom: Did you work long hours?
Alexander: Yeah, I used work about 12 hours a day.
Tom: Oh wow. That must have been difficult.
Conclusion
Positive: Subject + used to + present form verb phrase
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The action happened in the past.
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It happened frequently.
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It does not happen now.
Negative: Subject + did not + use to + present form verb phrase
Question: Did + subject + use to + present form verb phrase
Used to + other learning
because
I used to live in Paris because my wife worked there.
We used to have a cat because my daughter loves them.
My boss used to wear a pink shirt every Friday because he thought they looked good.
so
I used to live in Paris so ate a lot of French food.
We used to have a cat so have a lot of cat toys.
My boss used to wear a pink shirt every Friday so he couldn't wear a red tie.
like
I used to like drinking coffee every morning but don't think it's good for you.
We used to like going to the south of France and want to go back soon.
want
I used to want a great job and lots of money but now I just want to be happy.
We did not use to want a big house but now we have three children a big house is important.
should
I used to eat a lot of steak and should not start again.
might / could / may
I used to eat a lot of steak and might start again.
I used to study English at school so it could be easy for me to go England.
We used to try a lot of new good. May we try this?
comparative / superlative
I used to drink the best and most expensive wine but now I have cheaper bottles.
~ed ~ing
I used to play loads of video games. They were so exciting and I was excited to get a new one.
Task
Write:
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two things you used to do,
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one thing you did not use to do but do now.
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