an explanation of used to , to be used to doing, to get used and to doing and the use of would

1. Used to
Get used to
To be used to doing and
would

2. 3 expressions that look similar but have different
meanings
• To used to do something
• To be used to doing something
• To get used to doing something

3. Meaning
Used to
This refers to an action or habit that happened regularly in the past
that does not continue now
For example:
I used to listen to Nirvana.
They used to go on holiday as a family.
We used to study together at university.
We can also use “used to” for something that was true in the past
but no longer is now
For example:
The bus prices used to be cheaper.
There used to be a cinema on that corner.
I used to have long hair

4. Form
Personal pronoun Used to infinitive
I
You
We
They
She
He
It
Used To+
Go
Buy
Have
Know
Do
Find
want
Note that used to takes infinitive

5. To be used to doing something
meaning
To be used to doing something
This refers to an action or habit in the present that
is very normal for us.
Things we do everyday or things we have practiced
for a long time and are very normal or easy for you.
Examples
I am used to speaking English.
She is used to working a lot.
We are not used to such high temperatures
Are you used to working so much?

6. Form
To be used to doing something
To be used to doing something takes -ING
Personal pronoun Used to infinitive
I
You
We
They
She
He
It
am used
is used
Are used
Was used
Were used
will be used
would be used
To+
Going
Buying
Having
Knowing
Doing
Finding
wanting

7. To get used to doing something
Meaning
This refers to the process of an action becoming
normal for us. When we do something for the
first time it is new to us but over time with
practice it becomes normal to us.
Examples
I got used to driving.
I got used to working 50 hours a week.
I just can’t get used to the Irish weather!
She got used to working there.
I’m getting used to it.
You’ll get used to it in time don’t worry.

8. Form
Personal pronoun Used to infinitive
I
You
We
They
She
He
It
Get used
am getting used
got used
will used
would get
can get used
could get used
To+
it
Going
Buying
Having
Knowing
Doing
Finding
Want
noun
To get used to doing something
To get used to takes -ING

9. Pronunciation
The word “used” can be pronounced in 2
different ways.
The verb “to use” in the sense of purpose or
utilization or why?
I used a microwave yesterday.
Us’d
In this case we can pronounce this as if the “e”
is not there us’d.

10. Pronunciation
I used to do something.
To be used to doing something .
To get used to doing something.
When referring to common activities. It creates
a “T” sound.
I used to work a lot more.
Us’t
In this case we can pronounce this as if the “d”
is a strong “T” sound.

11. Patterns of contractions in English
• I’m going to see him tomorrow
• I’m gonna see him tomorrow
• I want to visit Prague
• I wanna visit Prague
• I have to go now
• I hafta go now.
• I used to work more
• I usta work more

12. Form of Used to for past habitual actions
Personal
pronoun
+ - ?
I
You
We
they
He
She
it
Used to Didn’t use
to
did
I
You
We
they
He
She
it
Use to
Note that Used to does not have a present form
In English to express this idea we would use say
What I usually or normally do.

13. What about you?
• What is a food you used to hate but now you
like?
• Who used to be your hero when you were
young?
• Who did you used to play with as a child?
• What is a habit you had that you stopped doing?
• What was life like 15 years ago in your city?
• What were things you used to do?
• What was your last job like in your country?
• What were tasks you used to do everyday?

14. What about you?
What are some difficult things you have
done in your life? Give 2 examples
• Why was it so difficult?
• What did you need to learn?
• What was new to you in the experience?

15. your past experiences
Finish the sentences in your own words.
• In this experience I had to get used
to__________.
• At first I wasn’t used to __________but I got
used to it.
• It took me a long time to get used to
__________.

16. Would
The word would can be used it four different
ways

17. Would
1 : polite requests
Would
3 :past habits that
happened regularly in
the past
2 : The simple
conditional
4 :refusal or
malfunction in the
past.

18. Pronunciation of the word
Would
• We must imagine that the Lis silent

19. Would for polite requests
• Would if often used with mind to make polite
requests
• Would you mind helping me with these
boxes?
Notice the form
Would + mind+ ing
Would is often used when we order food in
restaurants.
I would like to have etc

20. The simple conditional
• Would talks about probability
• The percentage of the possibility of an event
• I would never do that!
• She would never give me the money.
• My boss would never let me go home early.
– Very small probability of this event

21. Would vs would like
• Many students have confuse would and
would like.
• I would go there if I had the money= there is
a good possibility of this action in a given
situation
• I would like to do it= a personal preference or
wish to do something.

22. Would for past habitual actions
• Would can be used to refer to past habitual
actions
• When we were children we would spend all
day at the beach.
• My dad would always tell us funny stories .
• In the 1800s they would wash all their clothes
by hand.

23. Refusal or malfunction in the past
• When we speak about past events, would can
indicate a kind of refusal by a person or a malfunction
by some kind of device.
• For example- you ask someone for help and they
refuse
• “I asked him to help me but he wouldn’t”
• I tried to reason with him but he simply wouldn’t
listen.
• I put the key in the lock but the door wouldn’t open.
• I turned on my computer but the screen wouldn’t
work.

24. Would vs Used to
extremely similar but a little different
Used to
States and past actions
• I used to have long hair
• I used to be very shy.
Would
Past actions
• When I lived in Barcelona I
would get up late everyday.
• We would play football all
day as children.