Lesson 13 · Lesson guide
Used To, Would and Be Used To
Hello, my dear student!
Hello! Today’s lesson is about change at work and in life. How did people work fifty years ago? What did you use to do as a child? What are you used to now?
Three forms look almost the same but mean different things. “I used to work in a bank” means I don’t now. “Every summer we would visit our grandparents” is a repeated action in the past. And “I’m used to working late” means it is normal for me, not strange.
These forms are very useful in IELTS Speaking (“Did you use to…?” is a common Part 1 question) and in Task 2 essays that compare the past and the present.
See you in the exercises,Your teacher
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Three forms
Past
used to + verb
Habits and states in the past that are not true now. Negative: didn’t use to. Question: Did you use to…?
- I used to work in a bank.
- She didn’t use to like her job.
- Did you use to walk to school?
Repeated
would + verb
Repeated actions in the past, often in stories. Not for states: be, have, live, like, know, believe.
- Every summer, we would visit our grandparents.
- My father would get up at five every morning.
Normal
be used to / get used to + -ing or a noun
be used to = it is normal for me. get used to = it becomes normal. Any tense: I’m used to, I wasn’t used to, I’ll get used to.
- I’m used to working late.
- It took me a month to get used to the new system.
Remember!
used to + verb = past (not now). would + verb = repeated past action. be used to + -ing = normal for me.
Useful phrases
I used to…, but now I…
past and present
When I was a child, I would…
a repeated action in a story
I’m not used to it yet.
still strange for me
It took me a while to get used to…
it became normal slowly
Common mistakes
Not: I am used to work late.Say: I am used to working late.
be used to + -ing (to is a preposition here).
Not: I would live in a village when I was a child.Say: I used to live in a village when I was a child.
Live is a state → used to, not would.
Not: Did you used to play football?Say: Did you use to play football?
After did → use (no -d).
Check yourself
“I used to get up early” or “I’m used to getting up early”: which one is true now?
Can you say “I would have a dog”?
Now it’s your turn!
8 short parts, each a little harder than the one before. Take your time: mistakes are how we learn.
— Your teacher