UNIT 5

'Used to + infinitive':

We use this expression to talk about habits or repeated actions in the past which we don't do in
the present. We also use it to talk about states in the past which are no longer true. For
example:

• I used to have long hair (but now I have short hair).

• He used to smoke (but now he doesn't smoke).
• They used to live in India (but now they live in Germany).

Watch out! With the negative and the question it's 'use' and not 'used':

• Did you use to be a teacher?

• Did he use to study French?
• She didn't use to like chocolate, but she does now.
• I didn't use to want to have a nice house.

Note! With this 'used to' there is no verb 'be'. We CAN'T say 'I am used to have long hair'.
Try an exercise about 'used to + infinitive' here.

'Would + infinitive'

We can also use 'would + infinitive' to talk about a habit or repeated action in the past. We
usually use 'would + infinitive' in this way when we're telling a story about the past. So, we can
say:

• When I was a student, we would often have a drink after class on a Friday.
• When I lived in Italy, we would go to a little restaurant near our house.

However, we don't use 'would + infinitive' to talk about states in the past. So, if we're talking
about the past, we CAN'T say:
I would have long haiI would live in Scotlan

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Make an affirmative sentence, negative sentence or question using ‘used to +
infinitive’:
1. I / live in a flat when I was a child.
_______________________________________________________________
2. We / go to the beach every summer?
_______________________________________________________________
3. She / love eating chocolate, but now she hates it.
_______________________________________________________________
4. He / not / smoke.
_______________________________________________________________
5. I / play tennis when I was at school.
_______________________________________________________________
6. She / be able to speak French, but she has forgotten it all.
_______________________________________________________________
7. He / play golf every weekend?
_______________________________________________________________
8. They both / have short hair.
_______________________________________________________________
9. Julie / study Portuguese.
_______________________________________________________________
10. I / not / hate school.
_______________________________________________________________

If it’s possible, make a sentence with ‘would + infinitive’. If it’s not possible, use
‘used to + infinitive’:
1. I / have short hair when I was a teenager.
_______________________________________________________________
2. We / go to the same little café for lunch every day when I was a student.

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_______________________________________________________________
3. She / love playing badminton before she hurt her shoulder.
_______________________________________________________________
4. He / walk along the beach every evening before bed.
_______________________________________________________________
5. I / always lose when I played chess with my father.
_______________________________________________________________
6. She / be able to dance very well.
_______________________________________________________________
7. My grandfather / drink a cup of coffee after dinnerevery night.
_______________________________________________________________
8. Luke / not have a car.
_______________________________________________________________
9. We / live in Brazil.
_______________________________________________________________
10. My family / often go to the countryside for the weekend when I was young.
_______________________________________________________________

Conditionals
The Zero Conditional:
(if + present simple, ... present simple)
This conditional is used when the result will always happen. It's a fact. I'm talking
in general, not about one particular situation.
The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the
meaning.
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

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The First Conditional:
(if + present simple, ... will + infinitive)
It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't
know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could
easily come true.
If it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema.

The Second Conditional:

(if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)
First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be
true. Maybe I'm imagining some dream for example.
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.
Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible,
because it's not true.
If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's
impossible for me to call him).
If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

Finish the sentences with a clause in the correct conditional:

1: If it is sunny tomorrow _______________________________________________
2: If you sit in the sun too long __________________________________________
3: If I were you _______________________________________________________
4: If I were the Prime Minister ___________________________________________
5: If she studied harder _____________________________________________
6: If I won the lottery __________________________________________________

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7: If I went to bed so late _________________________________________
8: If I didn’t come to London ___________________________________________
9: If you mix water and electricity ________________________________________
10: If she hadn’t stayed at home __________________________________________
11: If I go out tonight___________________________________________________
12: If I were on holiday today ____________________________________________
13: If I listened to my mother _________________________________________
14: If it rains later______________________________________________________
15: If I were British ____________________________________________________
16: If I were the opposite sex ____________________________________________
17: If I have enough money______________________________________________
18: If you don’t wear a coat in the winter ___________________________________

What's the difference? 'Will' and 'be going to'

Will + infinitive Be going to + infinitive
A decision at the moment of
A decision before the moment of speaking:
speaking:
Julie: There's no milk.
Julie: There's no milk.
John: I know. I'm going to go and get some when this
John: Really? In that case, I'll go
TV programme finishes.
and get some.
A prediction based on something we can see (or hear)
A prediction based on opinion:
now:
I think the Conservatives will win
The Conservatives are going to win the election. They
the next election.
already have most of the votes.
A future fact:

The sun will rise tomorrow.

For promises / requests / refusals /
offers:

I'll help you tomorrow, if you like.

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 More examples:

• (The phone rings)

Julie: I'll get it!
('I'm going to get it' is very strange, because it makes us think that Julie knew the phone was
going to ring before it did).

• I'm going to go on holiday next week.

('I'll go on holiday next week' makes it sound like you've only just decided at that minute. Of
course, this is possible, but normally we plan our holidays more in advance!).

Other points about the future:

We use the present simple tense in two cases. First, we use it for a timetabled event in the
future, like public transport or the start of a class:

• My train leaves at six tonight.

• His class starts at 9am tomorrow.

Second, we use it after certain words, when the sentence has a future meaning. These words
are: before / after / as soon as / until / when:

• I'll call you when I get home.

• She's going to study after she finishes dinner.
• Please drink some water as soon as you complete the race

Put in ‘will’ or ‘be going to’:

1. A: We don’t have any bread.

B: I know. I __________________ get some from the shop.

2. A: We don’t have any bread.

B: Really? I __________________ get some from the shop then.

3. A: Why do you need to borrow my suitcase?

B: I __________________ visit my mother in Scotland next month.

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4. A: I’m really cold.

B: I __________________ turn the heating on.

5. A: Are you going to John’s party tonight?

B: Yes. Are you going too? I __________________ give you a lift.

6. A: What are your plans after you leave university?

B: I __________________ work in a hospital in Africa. I leave on the 28th.

7. (The phone rings)

A: I __________________ get it!

8. A: Are you ready to order?

B: I can’t decide … Okay, I __________________ have the steak, please.

9. A: Are you busy tonight? Would you like to have coffee?

B: Sorry. I __________________ go to the library. I’ve been planning to study all day.

10. A: Why are you carrying a hammer?

B: I __________________ put up some pictures.

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