Then and now

English course · B1 · Intermediate · 6 short videos

Goal — I can talk about past habits and how things have changed.

Grammar — used to / didn't use to, not… anymore, usually (present habits)

Words — used to, anymore, still, tea, smile, letters, phones, young, gym, changed

The videos of this unit

Work changes people.

Sam You've changed, Mia!

Mia Have I?

Sam You used to drink tea. Now it's three coffees a day.

Mia That's what work does.

Sam And you used to smile in the morning.

Mia I still smile. After the third coffee.

Useful expression You used to drink tea. — Use “used to” for things that were true before, but not now.

Grandma Lily remembers.

Lily When I was young, we didn't use to have phones.

Leo So how did you talk to your friends?

Lily We used to write letters. And wait a week for the answer.

Leo A week? I can't wait two minutes!

It was true. Now it isn't.

Word anymore /ˌeniˈmɔːr/ — Not now, but before, yes. It goes at the end of a negative sentence.

“I use to go to the gym”? Careful!

Common mistake ~~I use to go to the gym on Mondays.~~ → I usually go to the gym on Mondays.

Why: “Used to” is only for the past. For habits now, say “usually”.

Same spelling, different sound!

Word used to /ˈjuːstə/ / used it /ˈjuːzd ɪt/

Astuce (used to) : “used to” sounds like “yoost-ta”, with an “s”. “used” (the verb “use”) has a “z”: “yoozd”.

Then and now quiz: 4 questions!