Routine in the past with 'used to' - (Level: Intermediate)
Download the mp3 file length: 3 min 58 secs file size: 3.74 Mb__________ Hello, in today's episode we'll be looking at how to talk about routine in the past in English. One of the easiest ways to do that is to use the verb 'used to'. We can describe how things were back when we were younger or how different we were. For instance, "When I was younger I used to get up very early to go to school". In this case I am referring to a routine I had in the past, most of the times this routine isn't true anymore or stopped happening a while ago. 'Used to' is generally used in two different situations. One is when we refer to a fact in the past and the other when we refer to a repeated activity in the past. Look at the following examples: 1) We used to live in Rio when I was a kid. 2) My father used to travel abroad every month for work. As we can see, in the first example 'used to' is describing a fact while in the second example it is referring to a regular activity in the past - routine in the past. There are basically three structures to remember. The affirmative, the negative and the interrogative forms. Let's look at the other forms then. For the negative form we need to add the auxiliary 'did' + 'not' and the infinitive of the verb 'use', like in the following sentences: 3) I didn't use to go to the beach when I was younger. 4) She didn't use to wake up early on weekends. In these examples we are expressing that the activities did not happen, those habitual actions did not exist. Now, to form questions with 'used to' we have to invert the positions of the auxiliary verb and the subject. Look at the following examples. 5) Did you use to play any instruments when you were younger? 6) What language did you use to speak with your parents? So, keep in mind that you can express routine in the past with 'used to'. You can describe facts or habitual actions, your routine in the past. Now, think about a few things that were different when you are a child and try to write down a few sentences using these structures. Repeat the sentences to yourself and try to do some exercises in case you still find it difficult. Here are some more examples. Pay special attention to the pronunciation of 'used to': 7) I used to have very few friends when I lived in England. 8) My brother used to go to a very expensive school. 9) Jack didn't use to like it when we made fun of him. 10) Mary, did you use to look after your younger brother? Well, thanks for listening!!! I'm Marcos Gazzana and this is English Language Podcast.Subscribe to this podcast by visiting englishlanguagepodcast.blogspot.comand send your comments either by e-mail or post them on the blog. __________ Download the mp3 file Subscribe to this podcast by visiting http://englishlanguagepodcast.blogspot.com/ and send your comments either by e-mail or post them on the blog.