Teaching Used To: To Talk About The Past - Off2Class ESL Lesson Plan

Teaching used to
We use used to to talk about repeated habits or actions in the past that are no longer true in the present. For some students, using used to can be intimidating, as they’ve already learned the verb use in other forms. Additionally, they may have already learned that used to also means “accustomed to”. Now, they have to learn a completely new way to use it so don’t let them be scared! Used to is a useful phrase because it immediately signifies a lot of information. Now that you’re ready to teach it to your ESL students, let’s talk about our lesson plan introducing used to.

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Transcript

1. VS7.1 – Used to, repeated actions in the past Off2Class Lesson Plan Lesson 1/2 ESL Lesson Plan © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
2. © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc. Thank you for downloading your FREE Off2Class lesson plan! This teacher-led lesson plan is designed using the communicative approach - perfect for teaching students online or in any screen-enabled classroom. To access the Teacher Notes and Answer Key, or to assign homework, click here to set up your FREE Off2class account. Don’t forget to join the discussion on Facebook to get access to other great tools for online ESL instruction.
3. Repeated actions Remember: we use the present continuous for now I drink coffee. I play tennis. every day, twice a week, every morning, etc.. We use the present simple for repeated actions and habits: once a week, after school, on Saturday, etc.. And the past continuous for an action that was happening in the past: I am eating a hamburger now. I was reading a book. © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
4. This is Ryan ten years ago and today ten years ago now I play basketball I like wearing sports clothing I don’t like vegetables I drink pop I go to clubs at the weekend I go to school I don’t play basketball I wear suits I eat a lot of vegetables I don’t drink pop I relax at the weekend I have long hair I work in an office © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
5. used to… subject used to verb … I you he she it we they used to speak go play work rain take listen a little English. to college. computer games. in a hospital. a lot in winter. vacations at the beach. to hip hop. Ryan used to wear sports clothes but now he wears suits and ties. …for repeated actions in the past. The action does not happen now: © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
6. What did Ryan use to do? then now Ryan used to play basketball but he doesn’t play basketball now. I play basketball I like wearing sports clothing I don’t like vegetables I drink pop I go to clubs at the weekend I go to school I don’t play basketball I wear suits I eat a lot of vegetables I don’t drink pop I relax at the weekend I work in an office © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
7. 1. When I was young, I _____ (fight) with my sister. 2. Rodrigo _____ (listen) to rock music but now he _____ (listen) to classical music. used to or the present simple © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
8. 3. Naveen and Pratap _____ (enjoy) taking holidays in the south of India, but now they _____ (travel) to Europe. 4. When Alexander was at university, he _____ (study) hard. used to or the present simple © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
9. 5. I _____ by myself but now I _____ a house with friends from college. 6. Amira and Vigo _____ all the time at school. Now they are married! 7. My son _____ computer games but now, finally, he _____ books. used to or the present simple read play share live © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
10. 8. When they were at school, Nika and Thomas _____ in the school orchestra. 9. When I was young, I _____ very hard. These days I _____ less time at the office. 10.Yusuf _____ a lot of team sports but now he _____ in the gym. Use used to and/or the present simple spend play exercise work © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
11. What did they use to do? then now play tennis go to school hate vegetables play piano go to college eat healthy food fight a lot be best friends Greta Andreas Kian Ross and Esme © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
12. We use the present simple for: …states and actions. I am happy. She has long hair. general repeated situations… Madrid is the capital of Spain. (state) Kader walks to school. (action) Remember: we do not generally use continuous tenses with state verbs: I am tired. (state) I am being tired. I was tired. (state) I was reading a book. (action) © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
13. Which are states and which are actions? to be hungry to have short hair We often use to be and to have with states, but not always! We also use used to for states in the past to be excited to be energetic to have breakfast to sleep to listen to work to ride a bike © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
14. States and repeated actions in the past I used to play football once a week. action I used to have black hair. state now now © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
15. 10.Their children _____ (be) young but now they _____ (be) adults. 11. Bora _____ (be) overweight but now he _____ (be) slim. 12.Mateo and Ingrid _____ (have) a large house but now they _____ (live) in an apartment. Used to for states and actions © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
16. 13. Now I _____ (feel) happy but I _____ (be) unhappy. 14. Aksel _____ (be) naughty but these days he _____ (be) a polite young man. Used to for states and actions © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
17. 15.My uncle _____ in the army but now he _____ retired. 16.When Livia was at school, she _____ in trouble every day. 17.Before I went to a therapist, I _____ depressed. Now I feel better. 18.We always _____ on time but these days we _____ always late! Complete with used to and be © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
18. It’s not true anymore We use used to for things that were true in the past, but not anymore: Rio de Janeiro used to be the capital of Brazil, but now it is Brasilia. There used to be a park on this street, but now there’s an office building in its place. It used to rain a lot when I was young, but these days there is never much rain. Sachin used to be very unfriendly, but these days he is much nicer to everyone. © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
19. 19.Auckland _____ the capital of New Zealand but now it _____ Wellington. 20. There _____ a lake here when I was young. 21. French _____ a world language but today English _____ the only global language. 22.It _____ cheap to buy a house in this neighborhood but now it _____ more expensive. Complete with used to and be © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
20. I didn’t use to live here but now I do subject didn’t use to verb … I you he didn’t use to speak go play so loudly. running. computer games. negative form did subject use to verb … Did she it we use to work snow stay in that office? here? at that hotel? question form © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
21. 23.he / use to / listen / didn’t / to rock music 24. did / she / work / use to / ? / at the museum 25. have / didn’t / a car/ use to / he 26. they / ? / use to / at the school / did / teach Make sentences or questions © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
22. Make negative sentences Change the sentences from positive to negative: 27. He used to work at a supermarket. He didn’t use to work at a supermarket. 28. She used to drive us to school every day. 29. Max used to travel to France twice a year. 30. We used to spend our weekends at the lake. 31. When I was young, Lotte used to be my babysitter. © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
23. Make questions 32. We used to go dancing at the club. 33. That factory used to make a lot of women’s clothing. 34. Mr Watson used to give us homework on Monday. 35. They used to walk home from school in summer. 36.People used to have more children. © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
24. Make sentences with used to and a suitable verb John Ann Cathy Steffi and Ravi in prison tennis French London © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
25. Make sentences with used to and a suitable verb David Adelaide Gustav Enrique volleyball yoga travel unhealthy food © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
26. What has changed? There used to be a park here but now there’s an office building. then now © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
27. What has changed? There used to be a park here but now there’s an office building. then now © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.