Mastering Modals: "Used To," "Will," and "Would" in English Habits
This unit focuses on using modals such as "used to," "will," and "would" to express habits and routines. Learn how to describe past habits with "used to," transition to "will" for future actions, and utilize "would" for habitual actions in the past. With examples and practice exercises, you'll gain a robust understanding of how to frame sentences that convey your experiences and habits clearly. Sharpen your skills in using these modals effectively through targeted examples and practice.
Mastering Modals: "Used To," "Will," and "Would" in English Habits
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Presentation Transcript
Unit 9: Modals to express habits: “used to”, “will” and “would”
contents • Lesson review Unit 9: • Practice • Used to • Be used to/get used to • Would • Will
Look at these examples and choose the best answers: • She go / goes / went to school at 6 o’clock everyday • The present simple tense is used to express a present habit / a future habit / an annoying habit at the present. • Tom is always forgetting / forgets where he puts things. • She go / goes / went to school at 6 o’clock everyday • The present simple tense is used to express a present habit / a future habit / an annoying habit at the present. • Tomis always forgetting / forgets where he puts things. Click to see the correct answer in red.
Watch and listen, then answer the question: • What was a normal part of Jenifer’s life before she became a mother? Click here to watch
THE FORM OF “USED TO” • Affirmative: S+ Used to + base Verb. E.g.: We used to sit next to each other in class. • Questions: Did + S + use to + base Verb ? E.g.: Did they use to smoke? • Negatives: S + didn’t / did not + use to + base Verb… E.g.: My mother didn’t use to stay up late.
Uses of “used to” • We use used to to express a PAST habit. E.g.: We used to collect stamps when we were kids. (We collected stamps when we were kids. Now we don’t collect stamps anymore.) • We use used to to refer to a state in the past. E.g.: I used to be good at piano. (I was good at piano, but now I’m not that good.) • We also use used to to make a contrast between the past and the present. E.g.: The shop used to open in the early morning but it doesn’t any more.
Uses of “used to” “I used to play a lot” means • I do not play a lot now. • I do not play a lot anymore. • I no longer play a lot.
Possible mistakes: • Used to is used in the past only. E.g.: “I get up early” not “I use to get up early”. • Used to + V-inf. to describe a habit in the past; but Used to + V-inghas a totally different meaning. • “Did you use to…?” but not “did you used to…?” • Pronunciation. -> click to learn more
Be used to / get used to doing sth • Be used to / Get used to + V-ing Ex: I’m used to going to bed early. • Uses: ->Something you are accustomed to. It was difficult, strange, or unusual, but is no longer. -> “Get used to” expresses the process of change. Ex. : I’m getting used to the climate. -> It means “to be familiar with”.
“Would” and “used to” • When we are remembering the past, we sometimes use would to replace “used to”. e.g.: On those good days in Rome, we’d start the day with the sunrise, and then we’d spend time… • We use “used to” first, then we continue with “would”. e.g.: When he was a boy, he used to spend his holiday on a farm. He would get up early and help milk the cow…
“Would” and “used to” • Would cannot be used to describe a state in the past. e.g.: I’d like eating chips when I was five. • When would is stressed, it expresses annoys. e.g.: As a child, my younger brother would always make me angry.
Willandwould • He’ll sit in his chair for hours on end.
Supply the missing forms: using used to, be used to, get used to, will, would. • Ex: She … (cry) at the end of a sad film. -> will cry • He … (buy) a new T-shirt and wear it once. Don’t you think that’s wasteful of him? • When I was young, we … (have) holidays by the sea-side. We … (go) to the same place year-after-year. • He … (do) the cooking but then he stopped. • Jack … (do) the cooking because he’s been doing it for years. • He … (do) the cooking but he still burns things. Maybe someday he’ll get it.
Answer keys: • Will cry • Will buy • Used to have/ would go • Used to do • Is used to doing • Is getting used to doing