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Grammar Focus 12-Minute Lesson

Used to / didn't use to for past habits and states

Learn how to talk about things you did again and again in the past that are not true now.

💡 How to use this lesson

For Teachers:

• Use this 12-minute guide for quiet self-study or pair practice in class.

• Check the answers together at the end of each task to help learners spot common mistakes.

For Learners:

• Read the four simple rules and example sentences first to see how the words work.

• Then try the 12 short practice items below from easy to hard to test your knowledge.

🧸

Example Pattern

"When I was small, I used to hug my teddy every night."

4 Rules Grammar Rules Table

Rule 1: Past Habit / State used to + verb

Use used to with the base verb to talk about a past habit or state that is not true now. The verb after to has no -ed.

✓ Ex 1: "We used to play with marbles."

✓ Ex 2: "My uncle used to collect rattles."

Rule 2: Negative Form didn't use to + verb

To make it negative, say didn't use to with no d at the end of use.

✓ Ex 1: "She didn't use to like the nursery."

✓ Ex 2: "I didn't use to be good at hopscotch."

Rule 3: Question Form Did + person + use to...?

To ask a question, say Did + person + use to + verb. Short answers are Yes, I did or No, I didn't.

✓ Ex 1: "Did you use to have a skateboard?"

✓ Ex 2: "Did your grandfather use to play tag?"

Rule 4: Habit vs. Single Event used to vs Past Simple

Use used to for things that happened again and again. For one finished event, use the past simple.

✓ Habit: "We used to draw with chalk on the road every day."

✓ Finished: "He used to cry at the gate, but yesterday he cried at the gate."

✏️ Practice Exercises (12 Items)

Answer the questions below to test your understanding. Easy to hard!

Part 1: Choose the correct sentence

1. Choose the correct sentence about childhood toys. (habit)

____ a. We used to played with blocks. ____ b. We used to play with blocks.

2. Choose the correct sentence about feelings. (negative)

____ a. I didn't use to like my teddy. ____ b. I didn't used to like my teddy.

3. Choose the correct question about sports. (question)

____ a. Did you used to bounce the ball high? ____ b. Did you use to bounce the ball high?

Part 2: Rewrite the sentence with "used to" or "didn't use to"

4. Rewrite with the same meaning: (habit)

"When I was six, I always played hopscotch after school."

When I was six, I ____ after school.

5. Rewrite with the same meaning: (negative)

"In the past, I never owned a rattle."

I didn't use to ____

6. Rewrite with the same meaning: (habit)

"My sister drew with chalk on the pavement every summer."

My sister ____ on the pavement every summer.

Part 3: Fill in the gaps

7. Fill in the gaps to complete the question: (question)

____ your friends ____ play tag in the park?

8. Complete with the correct verb form: (finished time)

Last Sunday, Ben ____ (bounce) his new rubber ball ten times.

9. Fill in the gap with the negative form: (negative)

We ____ (not / use to) go to the nursery on weekends.

Part 4: Correct errors in a message to a friend

📱 Message from Alex:

"Hi Sam! Here is my message about my old toys. (10) I used to had a blue skateboard when I was seven. (11) Did you used to trade marbles with your classmates? (12) Yesterday I used to win a game of tag!"

10. Sentence (10): "I used to had a blue skateboard when I was seven." (habit)

Write the correct word to replace "had":

____

11. Sentence (11): "Did you used to trade marbles with your classmates?" (question)

Write the correct word to replace "used":

____

12. Sentence (12): "Yesterday I used to win a game of tag!" (finished time)

Write the correct single verb to replace "used to win" for yesterday's finished game:

____

Used to / didn't use to for past habits and states

Used to / didn't use to for past habits and states

💡 How to use this lesson

4 Rules Grammar Rules Table

✏️ Practice Exercises (12 Items)

Related lessons

Reading: The Teddy Bear Story

Speaking Part 1: Childhood Toys and Games

Vocabulary: Toys and Games from the Past

Writing: Toys, Games and Childhood Long Ago

Past Simple: Regular and Irregular Verbs

Must, Mustn't and Have To