1. used to
Look at this pair of sentences and answer the questions
below.
A I used to go swimming every Saturday morning when I
was younger.
B I went swimming last Saturday.
1 Look at sentence A. Can you write went instead of used to
go? YES
2 Look at sentence B. Can you write used to go instead of
went? NO
3 Which sentence is about a habit in the past which is no
longer true? A
4 Which sentence is about one action in the past? B
5 When can we put used to instead of the past simple?
To talk about a habit in the past which is no longer true
2. Look at the table. These people have changed their hobbies. Write
sentences about what they used to do and what they prefer to do now.
Name 3 years ago Now
Cris play football play hockey
Jose play the piano play the guitar
Andrea go surfing go skiing
Philip paint pictures take photographs
Nikos play the saxophone play the drums
Gina go swimming play tennis
used to play football play hockey
Cris ______________________ but now he prefers to _________________
used to play the piano play the guitar
Jose ______________________but now he prefers to _________________
used to go surfing go skiing
Andrea ___________________ but now she prefers to _________________
used to paint pictures take photographs
Philip _____________________ but now he prefers to __________________
used to play the saxophone play the drums
Nikos ________________________but now he prefers to ___________________
used to go swimming play tennis
Gina _____________________ but now she prefers to ___________________
3. Complete the second sentence so that it means the
same as the first.
My mother worked in a theatre when she was young.
My mother used __________ in a theatre when she was
to work
young.
She sold programmes and ice creams.
She ____________ sell programmes and ice creams.
used to
Her family sometimes got cheap tickets.
Her family sometimes used _________ cheap tickets.
to get
She didn't work every day.
She_____________ to work every day.
didn’t use to
She often saw famous actors.
She often used ___________ famous actors.
to see
They didn't speak to her.
They _____________ to speak to her.
didn’t use to
4. Work with a partner. Talk about things
you used to do that you don't do now.
For example, talk about:
• what you used to watch on TV
• what music you used to listen to
• what you used to wear
• where you used to go at weekends
I used to go swimming at weekends. Now I prefer
to go shopping.
