UNIVERSIDAD DE SAN CARLOS DE GUATEMALA

FACULTAD DE HUMANIDADES
DEPARTAMENTO DE PEDAGOGÍA
IDIOMA EXTRANJERO

USED TO + INFINITIVE

‘Used to’ is used to talk about past situations or habits that continued for months or years and
to emphasize that the situation today is different.

‘Used to’ has the same form in all people, singular and plural and it is followed by infinitive.

Examples:
1. I used to think that professors didn’t do anything.
2. Judges used to defend and prosecute people. Lawyers defend and prosecute people now.
3. Barbers used to operate people who were sick, but now doctor operate on people in
hospitals.
4. Barbers didn’t use to use anesthesia when they operated on people.
5. Waiters used to serve drinks in a restaurant. Barmen serve drinks in a restaurant now.
6. Teachers used to be very important in the community. They no longer are important.
7. Students used to be very responsible. They aren’t very responsible any longer.
8. Technicians used to repair equipment. They don’t repair it any more.
9. Did you use to buy bread in the bakery? Yes, I used to buy it in the bakery, but I don’t buy
it now. I bake it in my house.

PRACTICES:
A. Ten years ago, Max was a student, now he is a doctor. Use the information to ask and
answer questions about Max, as in the example.

IN THE PAST IN THE PRESENT

be very messy be very neat
live with his parents have his own house
take the bus to the university drive his own car
play soccer go to the gym
wear long hair wear short hair
have a girlfriend have a wife
ride a bike ride a motorbike
study English speak English
go to parties rest in his house
have many friends have few friends
hang around work a lot
 0. Did Max use to be very neat?
No he didn’t use to be very neat. He used to be very messy.

1. ___________________________________________________________?
_______________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________?
_______________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________?
_______________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________________?
_______________________________________________________________________
6. ___________________________________________________________?
_______________________________________________________________________
7. ___________________________________________________________?
_______________________________________________________________________
8. ___________________________________________________________?
_______________________________________________________________________
9. ___________________________________________________________?
_______________________________________________________________________
10. ___________________________________________________________?
______________________________________________________________________

B. How did you use to be ten years ago? Write answers to these questions.

1. Where did you use to spend your
vacation?
2. What kind of music did you use to
listen to?
3. What kind of cloths did you wear?
4. Where did you use to study?
5. Where did you use to live?
6. Which sport did you use to play?
7. What TV programs did you use to
watch?
8. Which language did you use to
study?