Past Repetition

PART A

Some of the sentences below contain common verb form mistakes. Find the sentences with errors and correct them using either “Simple Past,” “Used to” or “Would Always.” If you are confused, go to the Simple Past Page, the “Used to” Page or the “Would Always” Page .

EXAMPLE:

used to
A) I would always be unhealthy as a child.

1. When I was a child, I rode my bike everyday.

2. She would always be beautiful when she was young.

3. I used to go to the beach yesterday.

4. Margie loves horses because she used to have one as a child.

5. James would always have a very important test last week.

6. Jerry always used to cook dinner for himself, but now his wife prepares dinner.

7. Jamie would always have a dog when she was a child, but now she has a cat.

8. Laura would always bake cookies for us when we were kids.

9. I used to graduate from Georgetown University in 1992.

10. He would constantly embarrass himself by asking stupid questions in class.

11. They would spend Easter with us every year until we moved.

12. They used to spend Easter with us every year until we moved.

13. They spent Easter with us every year until we moved.

14. I used to be fat, but I lost a lot of weight in high school.

15. I would always be fat, but I lost a lot of weight in high school.

Used To

FORM

[used to + VERB]

It is better not to use “used to” in questions or negative forms; however, this is sometimes done in informal spoken English. It is better to ask questions and create negative sentences using Simple Past.

USE 1 Habit in the Past

 

“Used to” expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past. It indicates that something was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now.

USE 2 Past Facts and Generalizations

 

“Used to” can also be used to talk about past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.

“Used to” vs. Simple Past

Both Simple Past and “Used to” can be used to describe past habits, past facts and past generalizations; however, “used to” is preferred when emphasizing these forms of past repetition in positive sentences. On the other hand, when asking questions or making negative sentences, Simple Past is preferred.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

More About Active / Passive Forms

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS

• Past Repetition Simple Past, “Used to” and “Would Always

Future Perfect Continuous Forms

Using “Will”

Positive	Negative	Question
I will have been sleeping. You will have been sleeping. We will have been sleeping. They will have been sleeping. He will have been sleeping. She will have been sleeping. It will have been sleeping.	I will not have been sleeping. You will not have been sleeping. We will not have been sleeping. They will not have been sleeping. He will not have been sleeping. She will not have been sleeping. It will not have been sleeping.	Will I have been sleeping? Will you have been sleeping? Will we have been sleeping? Will they have been sleeping? Will he have been sleeping? Will she have been sleeping? Will it have been sleeping?

Using “Be Going To”

Positive	Negative	Question
I am going to have been sleeping. You are going to have been sleeping. We are going to have been sleeping. They are going to have been sleeping. He is going to have been sleeping. She is going to have been sleeping. It is going to have been sleeping.	I am not going to have been sleeping. You are not going to have been sleeping. We are not going to have been sleeping. They are not going to have been sleeping. He is not going to have been sleeping. She is not going to have been sleeping. It is not going to have been sleeping.	Am I going to have been sleeping? Are you going to have been sleeping? Are we going to have been sleeping? Are they going to have been sleeping? Is he going to have been sleeping? Is she going to have been sleeping? Is it going to have been sleeping?