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.

#	Ten years ago...	NOW ...
1	smoke a pack of cigarettes a day	not smoke at all
2	wake up late at 11:00 AM	wake up at 6:00 AM every morning
3	drive his car everywhere	ride a bicycle to work
4	eat junk food every evening	cook healthy meals at home
5	watch TV all weekend	go hiking in the mountains
6	drink four cups of coffee a day	drink green tea
7	bite his nails when stressed	practice meditation
8	spend all his money on clothes	save money for travel
9	live in a small, noisy apartment	live in a house with a garden
10	sleep for only 4 hours a night	get 8 hours of sleep

Ten years ago, David used to live with his mum and dad.

He doesn't live with his mum and dad any more. Now, he lives on his own.

Try some more exercises here and here!

BE CAREFUL!!!

1. Summary Table & Quick Rules

Structure	Greek Meaning	What it means	Example
used to + verb	Συνήθιζα να...	A past habit (not true now)	I used to drink soda every day. (Now I don't)
be used to + -ing / noun	Είμαι μαθημένος/η σε...	Comfortable with something (normal for me now)	I am used to waking up early. (It's normal for me)
get used to + -ing / noun	Συνήθιζω / Προσαρμόζομαι σε...	The process of becoming comfortable (in progress)	I am getting used to living here. (It's getting easier)

Rule 1: used to + base verb (Past Habit)

• Meaning in Greek: Συνήθιζα να κάνει κάτι στο παρελθόν.

• What it expresses: An old habit or state in the past that is over.

• Examples:

  • I used to live in London, but now I live in Athens.

  • She used to have long hair.

Rule 2: be used to + -ing / noun (Current Familiarity)

• Meaning in Greek: Είμαι συνηθισμένος/η σε κάτι / Μου είναι οικείο.

• What it expresses: Something is normal, familiar, or easy for you right now. It is not strange or difficult.

• Examples:

  • I live in Greece, so I am used to the hot weather. (Noun)

  • He is used to working night shifts. (Verb + -ing)

Rule 3: get used to + -ing / noun (The Process of Adapting)

• Meaning in Greek: Συνήθιζω σιγά σιγά / Προσαρμόζομαι σε κάτι.

• What it expresses: The transition or process of making something normal.

• Examples:

  • I moved to London last week; I am getting used to driving on the left.

  • Don't worry, you will get used to the noise soon.

QUICK REMINDER / ΓΡΗΓΟΡΗ ΥΠΕΝΘΥΜΙΣΗ

• used to + αρχικός χρόνος ρήματος --> Συνήθιζα να... (παλιά συνήθεια)
• am/is/are used to + -ing / ουσιαστικό --> Είμαι μαθημένος/η σε...
• get used to + -ing / ουσιαστικό --> Συνηθίζω / Προσαρμόζομαι σε...

SECTION A: Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση (Choose the correct option)

1. When I was a child, I [ used to play / am used to playing ] video games all day.

2. It was hard at first, but now I [ am used to waking / used to wake ] up at 6:00 AM.

3. Don't worry! You will soon [ get used to driving / used to drive ] on the left.

4. She [ used to live / is used to living ] in Paris, but now she lives in Rome.

5. I am from Greece, so I [ am used to / get used to ] hot weather.

SECTION B: Συμπληρώστε τα κενά (Complete with used to, am/is/are used to, or get used to + the correct form of the verb in brackets)

1. My brother ________________________ (eat) a lot of junk food, but now he eats healthy meals.

2. I just moved to London. I am slowly ________________________ (live) in a big city.

3. Maria is a nurse, so she ________________________ (work) night shifts. It's totally normal for her.

4. We ________________________ (not / have) smartphones twenty years ago.

5. Starting a new job is difficult, but you will ________________________ (do) it after a few weeks.