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Unit 9.2 · B2 Grammar

Past and present habits

used to for past habits and states; would for repeated past actions; present simple for current habits; be used to + -ing or noun; get used to + -ing or noun.

Teacher mode — correct answers are highlighted. Students never see this.
  1. 1. Before moving south, we _____ near the Scottish border.

    Multiple Choice20s
    Aused to live✓
    Bwould live
    Cwere used to live
    Dused living

    💡 Used to can describe a past state or situation that no longer exists.

  2. 2. Would can describe repeated past actions, but it is not normally used for past states.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 Would is suitable for typical behaviour, whereas used to is also needed for states such as live, know or own.

  3. 3. Use the negative form of used to: At university, I _____ drink coffee, but now I have several cups a day.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    didn't use to · did not use to

    💡 After didn't, use has no final -d.

  4. 4. Leila has worked nights for years, so she _____ during the day.

    Multiple Choice20s
    Ais used to sleeping✓
    Bused to sleep
    Cis used to sleep
    Dgets use to sleeping

    💡 Be used to + -ing describes something that is already familiar.

  5. 5. Match each structure to its meaning.

    Matching30s
    used to work→past situation no longer true
    would often visit→repeated past action
    usually works→present habit
    is used to working→is familiar with it
    is getting used to working→is becoming familiar with it

    💡 The forms distinguish past habit, current habit, familiarity and adaptation.

  6. 6. Use get used to in the correct form: The new software feels awkward, but we are slowly _____ it.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    getting used to

    💡 Get used to + noun describes the process of becoming familiar.

  7. 7. Put the chunks in order to describe a repeated past habit.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.My grandfather
    2. 2.would often
    3. 3.repair old radios
    4. 4.in the garage
    5. 5.after dinner.

    💡 Would + bare infinitive can describe repeated past behaviour.

  8. 8. Which question is correctly formed?

    Multiple Choice20s
    ADid you use to cycle to school?✓
    BDid you used to cycle to school?
    CWere you use to cycle to school?
    DWould you used to cycle to school?

    💡 After did, the form is use to without final -d.

  9. 9. Be used to is followed by a bare infinitive.

    True / False20s
    True
    False ✓

    💡 The to in be used to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive.

  10. 10. I _____ crowded places, but now I enjoy living in the city centre. (dislike)

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    used to dislike

    💡 Used to + bare infinitive describes a past state that is no longer true.

  11. 11. Which sentence describes a present habit?

    Multiple Choice20s
    ANora usually cycles to work.✓
    BNora used to cycle to work.
    CNora would cycle to work when she was younger.
    DNora is getting used to cycling to work.

    💡 Present simple with a frequency adverb expresses a current habit.

  12. 12. Match each beginning to its grammatically correct ending.

    Matching30s
    I didn't use to→enjoy public speaking.
    Every winter, we would→visit our cousins.
    She is used to→tight deadlines.
    They are getting used to→sharing an office.
    He usually→checks his diary after breakfast.

    💡 Each ending follows the correct complement pattern and time meaning.

  13. 13. Use be used to in the correct form: After ten years in the city, Kai _____ the constant traffic noise.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    is used to

    💡 Be used to + noun means the noise is now familiar.

  14. 14. Get used to focuses on the process of becoming accustomed to something.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 Get used to contrasts with be used to, which describes an established state of familiarity.

  15. 15. In which sentence can would naturally replace used to?

    Multiple Choice20s
    AEvery summer, we used to camp beside the lake.✓
    BWe used to own a cottage beside the lake.
    CThe cottage used to belong to my aunt.
    DThere used to be a shop beside the lake.

    💡 Camping is a repeated action; owning, belonging and existing are states.

  16. 16. Reorder the chunks to describe unfamiliarity.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.I'm
    2. 2.not used to
    3. 3.speaking in public
    4. 4.in front of
    5. 5.large audiences.

    💡 Be not used to + -ing expresses that an activity is unfamiliar.

  17. 17. Use get used to and drive in the correct forms: It felt strange at first, but I soon _____ on the left.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    got used to driving

    💡 Got used to + -ing describes successful adaptation.

  18. 18. Which sentence correctly describes a past state?

    Multiple Choice20s
    AI used to know everyone in the building.✓
    BI would know everyone in the building.
    CI was used to know everyone in the building.
    DI used knowing everyone in the building.

    💡 Know is a state, so used to is appropriate and would is not.

  19. 19. Questions about past habits keep the final -d: 'Did she used to commute?'

    True / False20s
    True
    False ✓

    💡 The auxiliary did already carries the past tense.

  20. 20. Use get used to in the present continuous: Our new flat is much smaller, but we _____ having less storage space.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    are getting used to

    💡 The progressive form are getting used to describes adaptation in progress.