PAST HABIT

 

Expressing past habit (Πώς εκφράζουμε συνήθεια στο παρελθόν)

Για να μιλήσουμε για κάτι που συνηθίζαμε να κάνουμε στο παρελθόν αλλά δεν το κάνουμε πια, μπορούμε να χρησιμοποιήσουμε:

1. SIMPLE PAST

When I was 5 years old, I played a lot with my dolls. I don't do that any more!

(ΠΡΟΣΟΧΗ! Εδώ ο Simple Past μεταφράζεται με τον ελληνικό Παρατατικό "έπαιζα", και όχι με τον Αόριστο "έπαιξα")

2. USED TO

When I was 5 years old, I used to play with my dolls. I don't do that any more!

Ο ερωτηματικός τύπος είναι:

• Did you use to play football when you were little?
• Did you use to go out with Mary?
• Did they use to drive away on weekends?
• Didn’t we use to go to play for the same football club?
• What make of car did you use to drive when when you were at university?

Αρνητικός τύπος:

I didn’t use to play with my toys.

3. WOULD

Τα ρήματα δράσης (dynamic/action verbs) μπορούν να εκφράσουν την παρελθοντική συνήθεια και με το would

When I was 5 years old, I would play with my dolls. I don't do that any more!

ΠΡΟΣΟΧΗ! Δεν χρησιμοποιούμε το would με τα stative verbs

π.χ. When I was 5 years old, I would like watching cartoons. ==> I used to like OR I liked

Past Habits Exercise 1

Complete the following sentences by expressing habits or a state in the past. Choose between used to + infinitive and would + infinitive.

1.

 My friend  (to pay) me back every time he borrowed money.

2.

 His computer  (to work) fine when he bought it.

3.

 U2  (to be) my favourite band when I was in high school.

4.

 This building  (to attract) many tourists.

5.

 They  (to tell) me what they were up to every week.

6.

 I  (to believe) Santa was real.

7.

 Our dog  (to bark) every night.

8.

 He  (not, to be) ill often.

9.

 My dad  (always, to cut) his trees in April.

10.

 She  (not, to be) rude.

Past Habits Exercise 2

Complete the following sentences by expressing habits or a state in the past. Choose between used to + infinitive and would + infinitive.

1.

 He  (to earn) a lot of money.

2.

 We  (to try) to get the best phone possible.

3.

 The government  (not, to be) as big as it is today.

4.

 Our boss  (to give) us a raise every time we got a new customer.

5.

 That student  (to cheat) on every test!

6.

 I  (to smile) every time I saw her.

7.

 My parents  (to have) a beautiful house.

8.

 My little brother  (to be) a lot smaller.

9.

 My grandmother  (to go) to church every Sunday.

10.

 I  (not, to have) a lot of money.

Try some more exercises here and here!