Life Was Different Then

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B1Grammar in Context

Life Was Different Then

I can compare past habits and states with life now in a short personal account.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Your situation

“When I was younger, I used to share a room with my brother. We used to listen to music every evening. I didn’t use to like quiet places. Now I have my own room, and I enjoy reading in silence.”

Read the situation transcript

“When I was younger, I used to share a room with my brother. We used to listen to music every evening. I didn’t use to like quiet places. Now I have my own room, and I enjoy reading in silence.”

Which past preference has changed?

Compare your idea

The speaker did not use to like quiet places but enjoys silence now.

How it works

Adult woman holding an old music player and a current book.
I used to listen to this music player every day.Picture context: the woman recalls a former daily routine with the old player. She no longer has that routine.

Used to helps organise a before-and-now account. Use it for a past repeated activity or state, then switch to the present simple to explain the change.

You do not need to repeat used to in every sentence if the past setting is already clear. In the controlled practice, keep the target form where requested so the contrast is easy to hear.

Past contrast: used to + base verb. Now: present-simple statement.

Earlier situation

I used to share a room.

This describes a past living arrangement.

Comparison

We used to listen to music every evening.

This gives a repeated past activity.

Hear the examples

I used to share a room.

This describes a past living arrangement.

We used to listen to music every evening.

This gives a repeated past activity.

I didn’t use to like quiet places.

This gives a past preference.

Now I enjoy reading in silence.

This describes the current preference.

One mistake worth avoiding

Instead of: I used to shared a room.

Say: I used to share a room.

Use the base verb share after used to.

You say

Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.

Your turn 1

Describe one changed past routine.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

I used to watch television after school.

Check yourself: Choose a safe personal or invented example.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Your turn 2

Describe a past state that has changed.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

I used to live in a busy street.

Check yourself: Used to can describe a state.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Your turn 3

Add the present contrast.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

Now I live in a quiet area.

Check yourself: Use present simple for the current situation.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Adult woman holding an old music player and a current book.
I didn’t use to read much.Picture context: she now prefers reading the book she is holding. Her former reading habit is supplied here.

Two guided self-checks

Say or write your answer before opening a model.

Self-check 1

Make a standard did question about the past habit: You used to share a room.

Compare a model and explanation

Did you use to share a room?

Use use to after did.

Self-check 2

Join two time viewpoints: past bus travel; now walking.

Compare a model and explanation

I used to take the bus, but now I walk.

Keep the past and present forms distinct.

Check your understanding

Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.

1. I used to ___ a room with my brother.

2. We didn’t ___ to enjoy quiet evenings.

3. Now she ___ reading in silence. Use enjoy.

4. Which contrast matches the opener?

5. Choose a correct question.

6. Correct “We used to living together.”

7. Can used to describe an earlier living arrangement?

8. What did the speaker do in the past but not now?

Read the listening transcript

I used to work at night, but now I work in the morning.

Opening this transcript makes this a reading-supported attempt.

9. Which sentence gives the current side of the contrast?

10. What should remain clear in a before-and-now account?

Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.

Answer key with explanations

  1. I used to ___ a room with my brother.

    share: Use a base verb after used to.

  2. We didn’t ___ to enjoy quiet evenings.

    use: The standard written negative uses didn’t use to.

  3. Now she ___ reading in silence. Use enjoy.

    enjoys: The current routine uses present simple with -s for she.

  4. Which contrast matches the opener?

    The speaker now likes more quiet.: The account contrasts an earlier dislike with a current enjoyment of silence.

  5. Choose a correct question.

    Did you use to listen to music every evening?: Use did plus use to plus the base verb.

  6. Correct “We used to living together.”

    We used to live together.: The target past-state pattern takes live.

  7. Can used to describe an earlier living arrangement?

    Yes: A state such as living somewhere can be described with used to.

  8. What did the speaker do in the past but not now?

    Work at night: Used to work at night contrasts with the current morning schedule.

  9. Which sentence gives the current side of the contrast?

    Now I work from home.: Now plus present simple gives the current situation.

  10. What should remain clear in a before-and-now account?

    Which facts belong to the past and which to now: The grammar organises the time contrast without judging the past.

Take it with you

I can compare past habits and states with life now in a short personal account.

Try the companion lesson

Grammar Focus: Used To: Before, Not NowExplore the Grammar catalogue