Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb phrase.
1. He …………….. smoke but now he has stopped.
We use used to talk about past habits and states.
2. She ……….. always bring us nice gifts.
Both would and used to can be used to talk about repeated actions in the past.
3. I ………………… go skiing but now I don’t.
We use 'used to' to talk about past states.
4. You used to hate him, ……………….?
Used to is not used in the question tags. We use 'did' here because the statement is in the past tense.
5. ……………….. play basketball at college?
In a formal style, used to is often used as a modal auxiliary verb. In this case, questions and negatives are made without do. In an informal style we make questions and negatives with do.
6. I ………………… like classical music, but now I do.
When we make negatives, not can go before or after to. Did not use to is also possible here in an informal style.
7. I …………………. have any interest in politics.
Please select 2 correct answers
Did not use to and used not to are possible here. Did not used to is not considered correct.
8. I …………….. in Mumbai for 13 years.
We do not use ‘used to’ to simply say what happened at a past time or how long it took. Those meanings are expressed with the simple past.
9. I ………………… be afraid of dogs.
Would cannot be used to talk about past states.
10. I couldn’t understand them because I ………………… their accent.
If you are not used to something, it is not familiar to you.
11. It took me quite some time to get ………………… alone.
We use an ing form after get used to. The infinitive is not possible in this structure.
12. I …………….. to London twice last month.
We do not use ‘used to’ to simply say what happened at a past time or how long it took. Those meanings are expressed with the simple past.
Answers
1. He used to smoke but now he has stopped.
2. She would / used to always bring us nice gifts.
3. I used to go skiing but now I don’t.
4. You used to hate him, didn’t you?
5. Used you to / Did you use to play basketball at college?
6. I did not use to / used not to / used to not like classical music, but now I do.
7. I didn’t use to / used not to have any interest in politics.
8. I lived in Mumbai for 13 years.
9. I used to be afraid of dogs.
10. I couldn’t understand them because I wasn’t used to their accent.
11. It took me quite some time to get used to living alone.
12. I went to London twice last month.
