Five years ago today

I’m a hotel receptionist. My dog died two years ago.

I travel a lot. I eat lots of cheese now.

I’ve got lots of friends. I read a newspaper every day now.

I play the piano. I work very hard these days.

I’m very lazy. I haven’t been to a party for ages.

I never read newspapers. I don’t know many people these days.

I don’t like cheese. I haven’t played the piano for years.

I don’t drink tea. I work in a bookshop now.

I’ve got a dog. I don’t go away much these days.

I go to a lot of parties. Tea’s great! I like it now.

Now write sentences about how Carol has changed. Use used to/didn’t use to/never used to in the first part of your sentence.

1. She used to travel a lot but she doesn’t go away much these days.

2. She used __________ but _______________________________.

3. __________________ but _______________________________.

4. __________________ but _______________________________.

5. __________________ but _______________________________.

6. __________________ but _______________________________.

7. __________________ but _______________________________.

8. __________________ but _______________________________.

9. __________________ but _______________________________.

10. __________________ but _______________________________.

III. In some of the sentences you can use used to instead of the Past Simple. Where possible rewrite the sentences using used to.

1. Every summer Eileen stayed with her grandparents while her parents were away on holiday.

2. Bruce drove the new lorry to Scotland, stopping one night in the North of England.

3. My aunt had a dog which she had rescued from drowning when it was a puppy.

4. As Mary was getting out of the boat her foot slipped and she felt into the river.

5. As children we spent a lot of time helping with the household chores, but we didn’t help in the garden.

6. The punishments at our school were very harsh, before the new head teacher was appointed.

7. Before the new shopping mall was built, there was a football pitch here for the local children.

8. I thought he was unfriendly, but now I realize he is a very nice person.

9. Most girls didn’t continue their education after secondary school, but now more girls go to university than boys.

IV. Write true sentences about yourself, using used to or didn’t use to and one of the words in the box.

holidays television cinema homework friends restaurant music lipstick jeans grandparents

Example: I used to go on holidays with my parents, but now I go with my friends

Revision

V. Choose the correct form of the verbs.

a) It is sometimes said that there is nothing now in the world of fashion. Annabelle was a well-known model during the seventies. When her children were in their early teens they (1) were enjoying/used to enjoy looking out her old photo albums. They (2) were finding/found it hard to believe that she (3) was wearing/used to wear such strange clothes. (4) Did people really use to think/Were people really thinking flared trousers looked good? And those ugly platform shoes! She (5) was admitting/admitted that people (6) were often falling/often used to fall over because the heels were so high. In the early nineties, however, Annabelle noticed to her amusement that seventies styles (7) were/used to be in fashion again. “I (8) planned/was planning to throw all my old clothes away,” she said, “but my daughter went to a party last week, and guess what she (9) was wearing/used to wear – that’s right, some of my old clothes!”

b) Complete the sentences using the Past Continuous or –used to-.

1. I haven’t been to the cinema for ages now. We … a lot. (go)

2. Ann didn’t see me wave to her. She … in the other direction. (look)

3. I … a lot but I don’t use my car very much these days. (drive)

4. I asked the driver to slow down. She … too fast. (drive)

5. Rose and Jim met for the first time when they … at university. (study)

6. When I was a child, I … a lot of bad dreams. (have)

7. When the phone rang, I … a shower. (have)

8. “Where were you yesterday afternoon?” “I … volleyball.” (play)

9. “Do you do any sports?” “Not these days. I … volleyball.” (play)

10. George looked very nice. He … a very nice suit. (wear)

11. Why does Warren keep shouting at people? He … so bed-tempered. (not be)

12. The government … much more help for disabled people than they do now. (provide)

13. It’s all very well complaining you haven’t any money, but while you … around the world, I … sixteen hours a day for my exams. (travel, study)