The document provides information about using past tense and used to for habitual past actions. It includes examples of forming the past simple of regular and irregular verbs. There are also exercises for students to practice using was/were, wasn't/weren't as well as used to to talk about past habits.

1. A time to remember Past tense and used to for habitual actions Lilia 2008 Rev. Ceci UNIT 1

2. PAST TENSE Where were you born? I was born in Argentina. Were you born in Buenos Aires? Yes, I was . No, I wasn’t . I was born in Córdoba.

3. When did you move to Los Angeles? I moved here ten years ago. I didn’t speak English. Did you take English classes in Argentina? Yes, I did . I took classes for a year. no, I didn’t . my aunt taught me at home.

4. We use the past simple of the verb to be to talk about a past situation. Ruben was on a Mediterreanean cruise. His children weren’t with him.

5. We form the affirmative with was or were . I was We were You were You were He/she/it was They were His wife was back home in the States. His two children were too old to go on holiday with him.

6. We form the negative with wasn´t (was not) or weren’t (were not). His wife wasn’t with him. His children weren’t interested in Mediterranean cruises.

7. We form questions and short answers like this: Was he on his own? Yes, he was . Were his children with him? No, they weren’t .

8. We form the past simple of most regular verbs by adding -ed to the infinitive. It’s the same for all persons. look He look ed visit They visit ed

9. Manny common verbs are irregular. We don’t form the past simple with –ed. He went to a restaurant. (irregular verb go ) There he ate a large paella. (irregular verb eat ) He drank a lot of wine. (irregular verb drink ) To know all the irregular forms look for a list and memorize them!!

10. We form the negative of the past simple with didn’t (did not) + infinitive without to. Affirmative Negative He liked He didn’t like old churches. He reached He didn’t reach the ship. He went He didn’t go with others.

11. EXERCISE 1. Complete the conversation between a boy and his girlfriend, using was/wasn’t , were/weren’t . Rob: Where __________ you last night? Hannah: I ____________ at home. Rob: No, you _________. I phoned you and you _________ there. Who ______ you with? Hannah: I ________ with anybody. I ________ on my own. Rob: No, you ________. You ________ with Jason. Hannah: No, I ________!

12. EXERCISE 2. You are asking a friend about his holiday. Complete the questions. Did ____________________________? “ Yes, we liked the food a lot.” When __________________________? “ We arrived back yesterday.” Where __________________________? “ We stayed on an island called Naxos.” How often _______________________? “ It didn’t rain at all.” Did ____________________________? “ Yes, we hired a Fiat.” How much Greek __________________? “ We learned a few words.”

13. USED TO Used to refers to something that you regularly did in the past but don’t do anymore. I used to be very messy, but now I’m very neat. Did you use to collect things? Yes, I used to collect comic books. No, I didn’t use to collect anything, but now I collect art.

14. What sports did you use to play? I never used to play sports, but now I play tennis.

15. We use USED TO + infinitive to talk about a habit or a regular activity in the past that doesn´t happen now (or that might or might not happen now). I used to smoke , but I don´t now. My father used to be a professional footballer.

16. Note the question form did I/you/etc. use to + infinitive. Did you use to eat frog’s legs when you lived in France? Did your parents use criticise you a lot when you were young?

17. Note the negative forms didn’t use to or used not to and never used to + infinitive. Laura drinks beer now. –Does she? She didn’t use to/used not to like it. She never used to drink it.

18. EXERCISE 1. Oliver Stratton is telling a journalist how his life has changed. Complete the sentences about his past with used to . Example: I live in London now. (Manchester) I used to live in Manchester . 1.- I’m a professional actor now. (history teacher) _________________________________. 2.- I travel a lot now. (not travel/much) _________________________________. 3.- I often go abroad now. (never go abroad) _________________________________. 4.- I’ve got a lot of friends. (not have/many) _________________________________.

19. 5.- (never like/getting up in the morning) Now I look forward to each day. _________________________________. 6.- (not like/hard work) Now I enjoy it. _________________________________. 7.- (My old pupils/not be/interested in me) Now they ask for my autograph! _________________________________.

20. EXERCISE 2. Neil and Sue are both 30. They are talking about the time when they were teenagers. Use forms of used to to complete their conversation. Sue: My parents were very strict. They never ____________ trust me. Neil: Didn’t they? What ___________ do? Sue: Whenever I went out, they __________ ask me where I was going. Neil: ____________________ let you go out with boys? Sue: No, they didn’t. All my friends ____________ go with boys. I _________ envy them. Neil: ________________ get angry?

21. Sue: Yes, I did. I __________ have arguments with them. And I often ________________ speak to them for days. Neil: My parents were the same. They found relationships with opposite sex very embarrasing. They _________________ talk about them. They ___________ make me feel guilty if I wanted to go out with a girl. I ________ get very angry with them sometimes.

22. BIBLIOGRAPHY Interchange 2 Teacher’s Book by Jack C. Richards, Hull and Susan Proctor. Grammar in Steps by David Bolton and Noel Goodey