Speaking Activity

 Here is a Speaking Activity I adapted from Speaking: 'Use to / Be used to / Get used to' Pair-Work Activity (ESL) (englishcurrent.com)

“Use to” vs “BE used to”

Level: Upper Intermediate

Focus: Practice the difference between “use to” (past event/action) and “be used to” (accustomed).

Skill: Grammar

Purpose: This is a review speaking activity after the differences between “use to” (past event/action) and “be used to” (accustomed) have been explained. The differences between these two phrases are difficult to understand even for native English speakers.

Activity:

·       Place students in pairs.

·       Hand out worksheet.

·       Write on the board:

“In the past, my dad worked every day. But now he is getting accustomed to having more free time.”

·       Say: “How can we say this a different way?”

“My dad used to work every day. Now he is getting used to having more free time.”

·       Another example:

“I have not always liked wine, but now I like it more.” (I am getting used to wine.)

“In the past, I lived in Saskatoon.” (I used to live in Saskatoon.)

·       Have students decide who is Student A and Student B and have then read the appropriate side of the worksheet while the other partner paraphrases the statement.

·       The Questions are for discussion in their pairs.

 

Worksheet

Student A

1)         In the past, my English was worse. (= So you’re saying your English used to be worse.)

2)         I didn’t like studying as a child. Now I do. (… you didn't use to like studying.)

3)         I am comfortable driving here. (… you are used to driving here.)

4)         People communicated more face to face in the past. (… people used to communicate more...)

5)         Some seniors aren’t accustomed to using cellphones. (… aren’t used to using…)

6)         John is becoming comfortable making dinners for himself. (… he is getting/becoming used to making…)

7)         Question: What is something that you didn’t use to like but now you do?

8)         Question: What is something that took you a long time to get used to?

 

------------------------ fold ------- paper ---------------------

 

Student B

1)         My children are accustomed to staying up late. (So you mean that they are used to staying up late.)

2)         Tina was nicer before. (… she used to be nicer.)

3)         Australians are accustomed to driving on the other side of the road. (… they are used to driving…).

4)         I play guitar now. I didn't in the past. (… you didn’t use to play guitar.)

5)         I can’t dance well now. I could before, though. (… you used to be able to dance well.)

6)         It takes time to become accustomed to living with another person. (… it takes time to get/become used to living with…)

7)         Question: What are you still not used to?

8)         Question: What is something that you used to do that you wish you still did?

 

 

Worksheet Created by Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com (copyright)