Did you really use to…?!
In this 6 Minute Grammar programme, we hear about a strange habit Finn had when he was a child. He used to sleepwalk! Listen to the programme to practise the grammar we’ve learned so far in this unit, and find out if Catherine used to have any weird habits…
Finn
Hello again. Welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Finn.
Catherine
And me, Catherine. Hello.
Finn
In this programme we’re talking about the past with used to and would.
Catherine
That’s right, so let’s get started. Finn, can you tell us, please, something interesting that you used to do when you were a child.
Finn
Right, OK, well… I used to sleepwalk.
Catherine
Sleepwalk? Every night Finn?
Finn
Yes, I used to wake up every night at around midnight. And I would get out of bed. Sometimes I would even get dressed! And then I would sleepwalk.
Catherine
Your poor mum and dad! So Finn said he used to wake up and he would get out of bed. And we use used to and would to talk about thingsthat happened regularly in the past, usually when we’re comparing the past with the present. Here’s Neil with those examples again:
Neil
I used to sleepwalk.
I used to wake up every night at midnight.
I would get out of bed.
Sometimes I would even get dressed.
Finn
Very good, thank you Neil. Usually either used to or would is possible. So I can say I used to get out of bed or I would get out of bed. Let’s hear some more examples:
Neil
I used to get the bus to work but now I walk. It’s quicker.
The bus used to take half an hour.
My girlfriend would meet me at the bus stop. Then we would go for a quick drink.
Catherine
OK. Now, we follow used to and would with an infinitive without to for all persons, so it’s: I used to get, the bus used to take, My girlfriend would meet me, we would go…
Finn
And we often use the contracted, or short, form of would, so instead of We would go for a drink, I can say we’d go for a drink, I’d get dressed, and so on.
Catherine
But there’s no contraction for used to.
Finn
So that’s used to and would for repeated actions or habits in the past. Now we can also use used to to talk about a continued state, or situation in the past. Neil.
Neil
Zina used to live in Taiwan, but now she’s living in the UK.
I used to love cooking, but I don’t have much time now.
There used to be a restaurant here but they knocked it down.
Catherine
Now we don’t use would in this way, so you can’t say: There would be a restaurant here but they knocked it down. Would is for things that happened regularly. We can’t use it to talk about past states or situations.
IDENT
You’re listening to bbclearningenglish.com
Finn
And we’re looking at used to and would to talk about what happened regularly in the past.
Catherine
…and also to talk about some of Finn’s strange night-time habits…
Finn
Come on… I was a kid! I don’t do any of this anymore.
Catherine
Are you sure?
Finn
Nothing like this. Only worse things. What about you Catherine? Did you use to do anything strange when you were younger?
Catherine
Well, not as strange as sleepwalking, I didn’t use to sleepwalk. But at night I would sleep on the floor from time to time.
Finn
Really?! Didn’t you use to sleep in your bed?
Catherine
No, I would get into bed, but I wouldn’t stay there.
Finn
Interesting! Right, OK, for questions and negatives with used to – we use did or didn’t plus subject plus use to plus infinitive…
Catherine
…so Finn asked me: “Did you use to do anything strange?” And he asked me: “Didn’t you use to sleep in your bed?”
Finn
…and Catherine replied: “I didn’t use to sleepwalk…” That’s subject plus didn’t plus use to plus infinitive.
Catherine
…and that’s use to written without a -d. In positive sentences used to has a –d at the end. But in negative sentences and questions, we write use without a –d.
Finn
…Now, the negative of would is wouldn’t, so Catherine said I wouldn’t stay there. We use wouldn’t in questions, too. So Catherine, wouldn’t you go back to bed?
Catherine
No, my parents used to put me back to bed.
Finn
OK, time for a quiz. Number one. Listen to this sentence. Is used to spelt with, or without, a -d? When I lived in Jordan, I used to go to the beach every day.
Catherine
And that’s used to with a –d.
Finn
Good, now number two. Is this sentence right or wrong? Suleyman would have blond hair when he was a baby.
Catherine
And that’s wrong. The correct sentence is Suleyman used to have blond hair when he was a baby.
Finn
Correct. Number three. Is this right or wrong? Do you used to live in Beijing?
Catherine
That’s wrong. Use to questions need did, not do. And that’s the end of the quiz. Well done if you got them all right.
Finn
There’s more about this on our website at www.bbc-story.com. Join us again soon for 6 Minute Grammar.
Both
Bye.
Grammar Reference
‘Used to’ and ‘would’
Meaning and use
We can use used to and would to talk about things we did regularly in the past, but we don’t do now. We use used to for either habits or states in the past. Would is used only for past habits, not for past states.
- Elena used to visit her grandson on Saturdays, but now she visits him on Sundays. (past habit)
- On Fridays, we would take a long walk after lunch. (past habit)
- The weather didn’t use to be so cold in May. (past state)
NOT: The weather wouldn’t be so cold in May.
Used to and would often have the idea of comparison or change over time.
- Elena used to visit her grandson on Saturdays but now she visits him on Sundays.
- We would take a long walk after lunch (but now we do not.)
- The weather didn’t use to be so cold in May. (now, it is cold in May)
Form
The different forms of these phrases are used to + infinitive (without ‘to’) or did / did not / didn’t + use to + infinitive (without ‘to’), and would / would not / wouldn’t + infinitive (without ‘to’).
Used to is the simple past. Use to is used in negative and question forms. It is used for both habits and states.
Used to – Habit
- Isabel used to sing in a band.
- Pablo didn’t use to drive to work.
- Did John use to study with you?
Used to – State
- Bob used to be much shorter.
- I didn’t use to like art.
- Did Wayne use to belong to the debate team?
- Didn’t Margaret use to hate flying?
Would – Habit (not for states)
- Since I always had that day free, I would shop for groceries every Monday.
- Since we were always in a hurry, we wouldn’t stop for tea on Fridays.
- Would you often stay for lunch?
Take note: adverbs
Used to and would already show that something happened in the past. We don’t usually add adverbs. But, if you want to stress a time period, you can add an adverb.
- I didn’t use to travel frequently, but now I do.
- Nancy would go for a jog every day, but now she doesn’t have enough time.