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Unit 10: Used to / be used to | Grammar | B1
We use used to when we want to talk about something which occurred regularly in the past but no longer occurs.
E.G. We used to go on camping holidays, but now we stay in hotels.
I used to believe in Father Christmas.
EXERCISE 1
Read the sentences and then make questions and answers using use(d) to, as in the example:
e.g. The train fare hasn't always been so expensive. (HOW MUCH/£10.50)
How much did it use to be?
It used to be £10.50.
1. We haven't always lived In London. (Where/Birmingham)
____________________________?
____________________________.
2. Martin hasn't always weighed so much. (How much/85 kilos)
____________________________?
____________________________.
3. He hasn't always worked for my father. (Who/the BBC)
____________________________?
____________________________.
4. She hasn't always been a teacher. (What/hairdresser)
____________________________?
____________________________.
5. We haven't always worn jeans at work. (What/suits)
____________________________?
____________________________.
6. Mr Marshall hasn't always driven a Mercedes. (What/Toyota)
____________________________?
____________________________.
If you are used to doing something, you are accustomed to doing it.
E.G. I don’t mind staying at the office this evening; I’m used to working late. We’re used to having lots of people in the house.
EXERCISE 2
Expand the following into complete sentences, as in the example:
e.g. He/use/get up early.
He is used to getting up early.
1. The princess/use/stay in expensive hotels.
____________________________.
2. Some men/not use/cook their own meals.
____________________________.
3. Those tourists/not use/walk around in this heat.
____________________________.
4. After so many years, I/now use/live in a foreign
____________________________.
5. My family/use/travel abroad.
____________________________.
6. She/use/eat octopus, but she/not use/cook it!
____________________________.!
EXERCISE 3
Read the following paragraph and choose the correct form (used to + infinitive or he + used to + gerund) to complete the gaps, using the verbs given in parentheses:
We 1._____________ (HAVE) a Spanish maid. That’s why I 2.____________ (NOT/DO) all the housework on my own. When Juanita worked for me, she 3._____________ (GET UP) at six o’clock every morning; she 4.____________ (MAKE) breakfast for the whole family and she 5.______________ (DO) the washing, ironing and dusting, before I’d even woken up. We 6._______________ (HAVE) all our meals cooked for us. I didn’t even go shopping – Juanita 7._______________ (GO) to the supermarket three times a week. I’m finding life very difficult now. I 8._____________ (NOT/MAKE) the beds, 9.______________ (CLEAN) the floors, 10.______________ (WASH) the dishes,11.______________ (BUY) the groceries or 12.____________ (IRON) my husband’s shirts. Maybe if I hire another maid, life will return to the way it 13._______________ (BE).