Unit 29: Used to - review
Has Finn really given up chocolate?
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- 1Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
- 2Reported speech in 90 seconds!
- 3If or whether?
- 45 ways to use 'would'
- 5Let and allow
- 6Passive voice
- 7Unless
- 8Mixed conditionals
- 9The zero article - in 90 seconds
- 10The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
- 11The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
- 12The continuous passive
- 13Future perfect
- 14Need + verb-ing
- 15Have something done
- 16Wish
- 17Word stress
- 18Different ways of saying 'if'
- 19Passive reporting structures
- 20The subjunctive
- 21When and if
- 22Inversion
- 23Phrasal verbs
- 24The future
- 25Modals in the past
- 26Narrative tenses
- 27Phrasal verb myths
- 28Conditionals review
- 29Used to - review
- 30Linking words of contrast
Session 1
Finn says he's given up chocolate, but we're not sure we believe him! But we do believe he can explain how to use used to in 90 seconds...
Activity 1
English Class
I used to love chocolate!
Could you give up chocolate? Finn claims he has, but we're not sure we believe him. Anyway, he talks about the food he used to love to eat in this video, and he explains how and when to use used to.
Vidiyoo daawwadhuuti shaakala kana xumuri
Finn
Hi, this is Finn with another BBC English Class. Now, today we are looking at used to. Right, let's learn a few things about used to, in just 90 seconds, as always.
So, first of all, why do we use used to? It's for when we're talking about things we did regularly in the past. Things we used to do regularly in the past. So, for example, me, I used to eat chocolate every day. I used to eat so much chocolate. These days, of course, I don't - you know, that's it - we're using used to to contrast the past and the present. So, I used to eat chocolate every day, now I rarely eat it. I never eat it. I never eat it at all. There we are. So, in terms of form, you'll notice that used to we've got the d on the end, it's the simple past here, form, and then we add the infinitive on the end: I used to... eat, I used to... love, I used to... enjoy chocolate every day.
Now, when we're talking about a question or a negative, then we don't have this d on the bottom. Use to. I didn't use to eat chocolate every day. Did you use to eat chocolate every day? There we go.
One last point: pronunciation. Did you notice how I said it? Generally when we're speaking fast we just say used to (sounds like: usta). Like that. Not used... to, but used to. I used to eat chocolate every day. And perfect timing, there we go. And cut it there Rob, if you're happy?
Rob
Yeah, that's good, thanks. Well done, Finn.
Finn
Great. I think I've earned this, haven't I?
Rob
Finn!
Finn
You still recording?
Summary
We use used to to talk about things we did regularly in the past.
- I used to drink a lot of coffee.
We often use used to to contrast behaviours in the past and the present.
- I used to drink a lot of coffee, but these days I prefer wine.
Form
The positive form is subject + used to + infinitive.
- I used to eat a lot of meat.
The negative form is: subject + didn't use to + infinitive
- Wedidn't use to have to be home before dark.
The question is: Did + subject + use to + infinitive
- Did youuse to play in the streets by yourself?
To do
Time to test yourself with a simple quiz. Used to or use to?
Used to / use to
5 Questions
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
Is this is question or a negative?Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
This looks like a negative question.Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
You're replying to a question here.Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
Is this is question or negative?Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
This one looks like a question!Question 1 of 5
used to
use to
Excellent!Great job!Carraa badaa!Qabxii argatte:
Used to / use to
5 Questions
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
Is this is question or a negative?Question 1 of 5
Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
This looks like a negative question.Question 2 of 5
Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
You're replying to a question here.Question 3 of 5
Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
Is this is question or negative?Question 4 of 5
Gargaarsa
Activity
Which column do these sentences go into? Do you need used to or use to to complete them?
karaarra buusu
This one looks like a question!Question 5 of 5
Excellent!Great job!Carraa badaa!Qabxii argatte:
End of Session 1
That's it for this session. So, Finn couldn't stop himself. How about you? Is there anything you used to do, but have stopped now?
Next
Join us for News Review as we discuss a major story in the news, and the language you need to understand it.
Caasluga kutaa kanaa
Used to
To talk about things we did regularly in the past.
- I used to drink a lot of coffee.
To contrast behaviours in the past and the present.
- I used to drink a lot of coffee, but these days I prefer wine.
Form
Positive: used to + infinitive.
- I used to eat a lot of meat.
Negative: subject + didn't use to + infinitive
- We didn't use to have to be home before dark.
Question: Did + subject + use to + infinitive
- Did you use to play in the streets by yourself?
