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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
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Use "used to" to describe past habits and states that are no longer true
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Form negative and question structures with "used to"
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Contrast past and present situations in professional contexts
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Discuss process changes, evaluations, and workplace evolution
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Key for this lesson

"Used to" describes past habits or states that are no longer true. It emphasizes the contrast between then and now: "I used to work in an office, but now I work from home."

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Used to + base verb

Past Habits & States (No Longer True)

Subject + used to + base verb

Positive: I used to work in sales.

Negative: I didn't use to work remotely.

Question: Did you use to travel for work?

before in the past years ago when I started
Contrast with Now

Then vs Now Pattern

Used to + verb... but now + present

Example: "I used to commute daily, but now I work from home."

Example: "We used to use spreadsheets, but now we have a CRM."

but now these days nowadays currently
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Common Confusion

"Used to" (past habit) vs "be used to" (be accustomed to) vs "get used to" (become accustomed to). This lesson focuses on "used to" for past habits only.

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Professional Context (70%)

🔄 Change Management: "We used to do everything manually."
📈 Process Evolution: "The team used to meet weekly; now we meet daily."
📋 Performance Reviews: "She used to struggle with deadlines, but she's improved."
🏢 Company History: "We used to be a small startup."
💼 Career Progression: "I used to work in a different department."

Everyday Usage (30%)

🚗 Lifestyle: "I used to drive to work."
🏠 Living situation: "I used to live in Paris."
☕ Habits: "I used to drink a lot of coffee."
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
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Correct Professional Usage

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"We used to hold monthly meetings, but now we meet bi-weekly."

Past habit contrasted with present

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"I didn't use to enjoy public speaking, but I've improved."

Negative - past state no longer true

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"Did the company use to have an office in London?"

Question form - note "use to" not "used to"

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"The department used to be much smaller before the merger."

Past state - used to + be

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Common Business Mistakes

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"I use to work in marketing."

Use: "I used to work..." (always "used to" in positive)

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"I used to work here since 2010."

Use: "I've worked here since 2010." (still true = Present Perfect)

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"Did you used to manage a team?"

Use: "Did you use to manage...?" (base form after did)

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to Frank giving Anna, a new employee, a tour of the office and explaining how things have changed over the years:

🎵 Audio: Office Tour - How Things Have Changed
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Frank: "...and this is the main operations floor. It's changed a lot since I started here 15 years ago. This whole open-plan area used to be a series of small, separate offices. We used to have walls everywhere! It was much quieter, but I think the communication is better now.

We also didn't use to have this many breakout spaces. We used to take all our breaks in the kitchen. Speaking of which, the coffee machine used to be terrible! We're all very happy with the new one.

Our work processes are completely different, too. Can you believe we used to log all our shipments on paper? I used to spend half my day filling out forms. Now, our new software has streamlined everything. We didn't use to have a dedicated IT support team either; you just had to hope someone knew how to fix your computer!

And of course, remote work is new. Before 2020, hardly anyone used to work from home. The managers used to believe that you had to be in the office to be productive. It's funny how things change.

Personally, my commute has changed too. I used to drive to work every day and sit in traffic for an hour. Now I take the new train. It's much more relaxing. So, did your old company use to have a flexible work policy?"

(B2 Vocabulary Explained: To streamline means to make a process more simple and effective.)

Question 1: What is the main purpose of Frank's conversation with Anna?

💡 Hint: Listen for Frank comparing past and present throughout the conversation.

Question 2: According to Frank, what did the main operations floor use to look like?

💡 Hint: Listen for "used to be" when Frank describes the operations floor.

Question 3: How were shipments managed in the past?

💡 Hint: Listen for "log all our shipments on paper" and "filling out forms".

Question 4: Complete the sentence about managers' old beliefs: "The managers _______________ that you had to be in the office to be productive."

💡 Hint: Listen for "used to believe" when talking about remote work.
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Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes

Choose the correct option for each situation:

1

Discussing past company policy: "We _____ require suits in the office, but now the dress code is casual."

A used to
B use to
C are used to
2

Asking about past experience: "_____ you _____ work in the finance sector?"

A Did / used to
B Did / use to
C Do / used to
3

Negative statement: "I _____ enjoy networking events, but now I find them valuable."

A didn't used to
B didn't use to
C not used to
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Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Complete with the correct form of "used to"

For Q3 with two blanks, separate your answers with a comma (e.g., "did, use to meet")

1.

The company _______ (have) only one office in London.

💡 Hint: Positive statement about past state: used to + base verb
2.

We _______ (not/offer) remote work options before the pandemic.

💡 Hint: Negative: didn't use to + base verb
3.

_______ the team _______ (meet) in person every week?

💡 Hint: Question: Did + subject + use to + base verb?
4.

I _______ (work) in marketing, but now I'm in HR.

💡 Hint: Positive statement contrasting past with "but now"

Exercise B: Rewrite using "used to"

1.

In the past, our team worked from the office every day. (Rewrite with "used to")

💡 Hint: Replace "In the past, [subject] [past verb]" with "[Subject] used to [base verb]"
2.

Before, we didn't have flexible hours. (Rewrite with "didn't use to")

💡 Hint: Replace "Before, we didn't [verb]" with "We didn't use to [base verb]"
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Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
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Preparation for Class

Practice contrasting past and present using "used to" structures.

💼 Task 1: Workplace Changes (Controlled - 1 min)

Complete these sentences about how your workplace has changed:

  • "We used to _______, but now we _______."
  • "I didn't use to _______, but now I _______."
  • "The company used to be _______, but now it's _______."
📊 Task 2: Career Journey (Guided - 2 min)

Describe how your role or career has evolved:

  • What did you use to do when you started your career?
  • What skills didn't you use to have?
  • How has your industry changed? What did companies use to do differently?
🔄 Task 3: Discussion (Free - 1 min)

Discuss with your teacher:

  • What aspect of your work life used to be better? What's better now?
  • How did your industry use to operate before technology changed it?
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Module 1 Complete!

You've completed Module 1: Past and Present Experiences.
Key structures: Present Perfect (for/since, already/yet), Past Simple (specific times), Used to (past habits)
Next: Module 2 - Talking About the Future

📝 Take Module 1 Quiz Next lesson →