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The different forms of these phrases are used to + infinitive (without to) or did / did
not / didnt + use to + infinitive (without to), and would / would not / wouldnt +
infinitive (without to).
Used to is the simple past. Use to is used in negative and question forms. It is used for
both habits and states.
Used to - Habit
Isabel used to sing in a band.
Pablo didnt use to drive to work.
Did John use to study with you?
Used to - State
Bob used to be much shorter.
I didnt use to like art.
Did Wayne use to belong to the debate team?
Didnt Margaret use to hate flying?
Would - Habit (not for states)
Since I always had that day free, I would shop for groceries every Monday.
Since we were always in a hurry, we wouldnt stop for tea on Fridays.
Would you often stay for lunch?
6 Minute Vocabulary
Pronouncing verbs and nouns
Catherine
the word present is a key word for the topic we're going to present in this programme...
Neil
Ah... PREsent and preSENT. They are spelt same way but we say them differently.
Catherine
That's right, because today were talking about words that are spelt the same, but
pronounced differently, depending on whether were using them as nouns or verbs.
Neil
Like PREsent and preSENT. So the present you gave me is the noun.
Catherine
Thats right. And were presenting 6 Minute Vocabulary present here is a verb. Lets hear
Lucy talking about Sam Smith, her favourite singer.
Neil
heres Lucy. And she is a big Sam Smith fan. Will the number of people who want to go to
his concerts go up, or down?
Lucy
I really want to go to a Sam Smith concert but the tickets have already sold out.
Sometimes when that happens, they increase the number of concert dates. I want to hear
him sing 'Stay with me' it won 'Record of the Year' at the Grammys. I hope hell record
some new songs soon. But that will mean an increase in people wanting concert tickets.
Neil
And the answer is: it will go up. Lucy says there will be an increase in people wanting
concert tickets.
Catherine
Yes, and increase here is a noun, so the stress is on the first syllable: INcrease. But Lucy
also used the same word as a verb. Where does the stress fall this time?
Sometimes when that happens, they increase the number of concert dates.
Neil
This time, the stress falls on the second syllable inCREASE, because Lucys using the
word as a verb.
Catherine
Other nouns and verbs with the same spelling move the stress from the first to second
syllable in the same way - like the noun DEcrease
Neil
which becomes deCREASE, when its a verb.
Catherine
and there is, of course Neil, the INvite you gave me to your party
Neil
Yes, INvite here is a noun with the stress on the first syllable. But if I say to Catherine, I
want to inVITE you to my party on Saturday, inVITE is a verb, with the stress falling on the
second syllable.
Catherine
And heres another clip from Lucy. Listen out for another word she uses as a noun and a
verb with different stress patterns.
I want to hear him sing 'Stay with me' it won REcord of the Year at the Grammys.
I hope hell reCORD some new songs soon.
Neil
We had REcord and reCORD. REcord is the noun, so the stress is on the first syllable.
Catherine
And reCORD is the verb, so the stress is on the second syllable.
IDENT
6 Minute Vocabulary, from BBC Learning English.
Neil
Were talking about nouns and verbs that are spelt the same but pronounced differently,
like a REcord and to reCORD.
Catherine
And we stress the first syllable when the word is a noun, and the second syllable when the
word is a verb.
Neil
And now, its time for a quiz, so get ready! Which is the correct way to say the missing
word in these sentences? Number one: Michael Phelps has the [sfx: bell] for the most
Olympic gold medals. Is it a) reCORD or b) REcord?
Catherine
Its REcord because its a noun.
Neil
Well done if you got that right. Number two: We hope that sales will [sfx: bell] this month. Is
it a) INcrease or b) InCREASE?
Catherine
And the answer is b) InCREASE because its a verb.
Neil
And finally, number three: I need to buy a [sfx: bell] for my friends. Theyre getting married
tomorrow. Is it a) PREsent or b) preSENT?
Catherine
Its a) PREsent because its a noun.
Neil
heres todays top tip for learning vocabulary: when you look up a word in an online
dictionary, listen to the audio and try to copy the word stress. If possible, record yourself
saying the word, then compare your pronunciation with the audio from the dictionary.
Im sorry I cant come for a drink with you tomorrow night, but thanks for the INvite
anyway!
to inVITE (verb)
ask someone to go somewhere
How many people did you inVITE for dinner? Weve only got six chairs!
a PREsent (noun)
something you give to someone on a special occasion like a birthday or wedding
The best PREsent was my new mobile. I couldnt believe it when I unwrapped it!
to preSENT (verb)
show, give or introduce
The Queen is going to preSENT the medals to the winners.
a REcord (noun)
the best ever done, often in sport; music or song you can buy on a CD or download
The Guinness Book of Records has some fascinating REcords, like how far a dog
can ride a scooter!
to reCORD (verb)
store sounds, music or information so they can be used later
A good way to practise speaking English is to reCORD your voice on your phone
and listen to yourself.
6 Minute Grammar
Did you really use to...?!
Finn
In this programme we're talking about the past with used to and would.
Catherine
Finn, can you tell us, please, something interesting that you used to do when you were a
child.
Finn
I used to sleepwalk. I used to wake up every night at around midnight. And I would get
out of bed. Sometimes I would even get dressed! And then I would sleepwalk.
Catherine
Finn said he used to wake up and he would get out of bed. And we use used
to and would to talk about things that happened regularly in the past, usually when we're
comparing the past with the present.
Neil
I used to sleepwalk.
I used to wake up every night at midnight.
I would get out of bed.
Sometimes I would even get dressed.
Finn
Usually either used to or would is possible. So I can say I used to get out of bed or
I would get out of bed.
Neil
I used to get the bus to work but now I walk. It's quicker.
The bus used to take half an hour.
My girlfriend would meet me at the bus stop. Then we would go for a quick drink.
Catherine
OK. Now, we follow used to and would with an infinitive without to for all persons, so it's: I
used to get, the bus used to take, My girlfriend would meet me, we would go...
Finn
And we often use the contracted, or short, form of would, so instead of We would go for a
drink, I can say we'd go for a drink, I'd get dressed, and so on.
Catherine
But theres no contraction for used to.
Finn
So that's used to and would for repeated actions or habits in the past. Now we can
also use used to to talk about a continued state, or situation in the past.
Neil
Zina used to live in Taiwan, but now she's living in the UK.
I used to love cooking, but I don't have much time now.
There used to be a restaurant here but they knocked it down.
Catherine
Now we don't use would in this way, so you can't say: There would be a restaurant here
but they knocked it down. Would is for things that happened regularly. We can't use it to
talk about past states or situations.
Finn
And we're looking at used to and would to talk about what happened regularly in the past.
What about you Catherine? Did you use to do anything strange when you were younger?
Catherine
Well, not as strange as sleepwalking, I didn't use to sleepwalk. But at night I would
sleep on the floor from time to time.
Finn
Really?! Didn't you use to sleep in your bed?
Catherine
No, I would get into bed, but I wouldn't stay there.
Finn
Interesting! Right, OK, for questions and negatives with used to - we use did or didn't
plus subject plus use to plus infinitive...
Catherine
...so Finn asked me: "Did you use to do anything strange?" And he asked me: "Didn't
you use to sleep in your bed?"
Finn
...and Catherine replied: "I didn't use to sleepwalk..." That's subject plus didn't plus use
to plus infinitive.
Catherine
...and that's use to written without a -d. In positive sentences used to has a -d at the
end. But in negative sentences and questions, we write use without a -d.
Finn
...Now, the negative of would is wouldn't, so Catherine said I wouldn't stay there. We
use wouldn't in questions, too. So Catherine, wouldn't you go back to bed?
Catherine
No, my parents used to put me back to bed.
Finn
OK, time for a quiz. Number one. Listen to this sentence. Is used to spelt with, or without,
a -d? When I lived in Jordan, I used to go to the beach every day.
Catherine
And that's used to with a d.
Finn
Good, now number two. Is this sentence right or wrong? Suleyman would have blond
hair when he was a baby.
Catherine
And that's wrong. The correct sentence is Suleyman used to have blond hair when he
was a baby.
Finn
Correct. Number three. Is this right or wrong? Do you used to live in Beijing?
Catherine
That's wrong. Use to questions need did, not do.
More examples:
You want to water those flowers every morning.
He doesn't want to cut that grass too short. It will die.
3. Imperatives
We can use imperative verbs to give instructions. The form for imperatives is the base
infinitive without 'to'. The negative is made with Don't + base infinitive without 'to'.
Think about what the tree will look like.
More examples:
Choose a tree that will look nice all year.
Don't forget to check the roots!
4. The phrase 'Don't be afraid + infinitive with 'to'
This informal phrase gives advice about doing something without worrying too much about
it. The form is Don't be afraid + infinitive with 'to'.
Don't be afraid to take it out of its pot.
More examples:
Don't be afraid to pick up the tree.
Don't be afraid to cut back dead growth.