Objectives

1. Understand the difference between the three major aspects of past
2. Use time and aspect changes to relate detailed narrations
3. Combine narration and description to create paragraph-length ideas

Examples

I worked from 9-5 every day. (simple past + expression of time used to show habit) 

I was studying at OSU when I received the job offer. (past progressive + an interruption to show the action occurred over time)

I had been the team leader for a year. (past perfect + expression of time to show a state over time)

In addition to this, we can use the following three modals as phrases to express past habits and past states.

Examples

They used to live in San Francisco. (past state)

The company's commercials used to be funnier. (past state)

We used to ride our bikes after school. (past habit)

I didn't use to like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but now I like them. (negative past state)

Can you believe she used to drive two hours to work every day? (past habit)

This informal expression of a past habit/state is very common. Listen for it in conversations.

Examples

I am used to my teacher's corrections. 

She isn't used to the food in the United States.

The business is used to spending a lot of money on advertising. 

Examples

He was used to waking up early for school before the vacation.

They were used to taking the bus home after work.

Paula wasn't used to studying so much.

Examples

There useta be a grocery store there.

We didn't useta have a mall in our town.

She was useta exercising every morning.

Examples

We would ride our bikes after school.

Can you believe she would drive two hours to work every day?

When I was young, I wouldn't practice playing the piano. 

Examples

They would live in San Francisco. (expresses future possibility)

The company's commercials would be funnier if they used famous actors. (expresses a conditional)

Examples

When I was young, I'd go to school every day.

They'd visit their grandparents every summer.

Exercise 1: Listen & Speak

Watch this video about the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression in the United States and notice when the speaker uses would to talk about past habits/states.

Speaking Practice

• Practice summarizing the video using your own examples of would and used to
• Talk about the experiences your grandparents (or parents) had and the habits and states of the past. How are things the same or different now?

Exercise 2: Old Habits

Tell your partner about habits you used to have.

Why did you do these routines?

Why did you stop? 

What are your current habits? (simple present)

Exercise 3: "Ancient" Technology

Your teacher will assign you to a group to work with for this task.

1. Watch the first two minutes of this video.
2. As a group, make a list of old technology. What was it? How was it used?
3. Make a list of current technology. What is it? How is it used?
4. Imagine you are in the future (like in the video) and you are explaining "ancient" technology to future children.
5. Use the grammar from this section to talk about past habits of people using the technology and past states to describe the technology.

Exercise 4: Job Interview

Your teacher will act as a job interviewer for this activity.

1. Your teacher will ask you a question about your job experience.
   • ex. What responsibilities did you have in your last job?
2. Answer using the grammar from this section to explain your past habits and states.
   • ex. In my last job, I used to attend a lot of meetings. I would present new ideas to improve our products.
3. Listen to your classmates' answers. Sometimes your teacher will ask you to repeat what you learned about their work experience.
   • ex. Melani, what did Danny do in his last job? He would present new ideas.