how to express routines and states in the past using used to

1. 2
The Shady Past
of a Butterfly
Focus on Grammar 3
Part I, Unit 5
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used to

2. …I used to be
a caterpillar!
…I used to be
a caterpillar!
Hello!Hello!
I am Madame
Butterfly …
I am Madame
Butterfly …
… and I am
beautiful!
… and I am
beautiful!
…I used to
look very
different!
…I used to
look very
different!
The Secret Life of a Butterfly 1The Secret Life of a Butterfly 1
But let me tell
you …
But let me tell
you …

3. I used to
live on
plants …
I used to
live on
plants …
The gardener
was not happy
with me!
The gardener
was not happy
with me!
… and I used to eat
sweet, young, green
leaves. Mmmmm.
… and I used to eat
sweet, young, green
leaves. Mmmmm.
I used to
get into
trouble for
it too.
I used to
get into
trouble for
it too.
The Secret Life of a Butterfly 2The Secret Life of a Butterfly 2

4. He used to come
running after me to
catch me.
He used to come
running after me to
catch me.
But I used to hide
under leaves where
he could not see
me.
But I used to hide
under leaves where
he could not see
me.
That used to drive
him crazy. And I
used to love that too.
That used to drive
him crazy. And I
used to love that too.
The Secret Life of a Butterfly 3The Secret Life of a Butterfly 3

5. Used to 1
I used to be a caterpillar!I used to be a caterpillar!
base form
Use used to + base form of the verb to talk about past habits or
past situations that no longer exist in the present.

6. Be Careful!
I used to eat green
leaves.
I used to eat green
leaves.
base form
I don’t eat leaves
today. I drink the
nectar of flowers!
I don’t eat leaves
today. I drink the
nectar of flowers!
Used to always refers to the past. There is no
present form.

7. Used to 2
• Use used to in sentences that contrast the past and the
present. Time expressions such as now, no longer, or
not anymore emphasize the contrast.
I used to hide from
the gardener, but I
don’t do that
anymore.
I used to hide from
the gardener, but I
don’t do that
anymore.
Now, I fly right
around his face, and
he doesn’t scream at
me any longer.
Now, I fly right
around his face, and
he doesn’t scream at
me any longer.

8. Practice 1
Write about three things you used
to do. Add sentences in the
present using now, no longer, or
not anymore.
The gardener used to scream
when he saw caterpillars.
The gardener used to scream
when he saw caterpillars.
Example:
Now, he doesn’t scream at
the beautiful butterflies.
Now, he doesn’t scream at
the beautiful butterflies.

9. Negative with Used to
Form the negative with didn’t + use to or
never + used to + base form.
Madame Butterfly didn’t
used to have wings.
I didn’t use to be so
beautiful!
use
base form
No –d with did !!

10. Questions with Used to
No –d with did !!
Form questions with did + use to + base form.
Did you used to look different?
Did the gardener use to try
to catch you?
use
base form

11. Practice 2
Look at the sentences with used to.
Form questions and negative
statements for each sentence.
The gardener used to love the caterpillar.Example:
Did the gardener use to love the caterpillar?
The gardener didn’t use to love the caterpillar.
The butterfly used to be ugly.
The caterpillar used to drink the nectar of flowers.
The gardener used to leave the caterpillar alone.
Madame Butterfly used to live in a house.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Did the butterfly use to look different?
The butterfly didn’t use to look different.
Did the caterpillar use to drink the nectar of flowers?
The caterpillar didn’t use to drink the nectar of flowers.
Did the gardener use to leave the caterpillar alone?
The gardener didn’t use to leave the caterpillar alone.
Did Madame Butterfly use to live in a house?
Madame Butterfly didn’t use to live in a house.

12. And I quickly gotgot
used toused to drinkingdrinking
the nectarthe nectar of
beautiful
flowers.
And I quickly gotgot
used toused to drinkingdrinking
the nectarthe nectar of
beautiful
flowers.
Be Used to & Get Used toBe Used to & Get Used to
Life is good
when you
are
beautiful!
Life is good
when you
are
beautiful!
Today life is
very different.
Today life is
very different.
I am used toam used to
peoplepeople lovingloving me.
I am used toam used to
peoplepeople lovingloving me.
My friend and I areare
used toused to gettinggetting
lots of
compliments.
My friend and I areare
used toused to gettinggetting
lots of
compliments.

13. Be Careful!
Do not confuse used toused to + base form of the verb with
be used tobe used to or get used toget used to.
We used to eat green leaves.
We are used to eating the nectar of
flowers.
Form of be
We got used to eating leaves andleaves and
flowers.flowers.
Form of get

14. Be Careful!
Be used toused to meansmeans be accustomed to.be accustomed to. Get used toGet used to
meansmeans get accustomed to.
I am used to peopleam used to people lovingloving me.
She got used to gettinggot used to getting lots of
compliments.

15. References
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its
licensors. All rights reserved.