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).
-
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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