Grammar: used to / didn’t use to / Did you use to…?

🎯 This Week’s Aim

This week we are going to talk about everyday life before smartphones.

You will practise how to:

talk about past habits
ask questions about the past
compare life before and now
give your opinion
speak with classmates

✅ Useful Grammar

used to + verb

We use used to to talk about past habits or past situations.

Examples

People used to call friends from a landline.
People used to carry paper maps.
Families used to print photos.

Negative

didn’t use to + verb

People didn’t use to check messages all day.
We didn’t use to use apps for directions.
I didn’t use to take hundreds of photos.

Questions

Did you use to + verb…?

Did you use to write letters?
Did you use to use a paper map?
Did people use to wait more?

Short answers

Yes, I did.
No, I didn’t.

⚠️ Remember

I used to went ❌
I used to go ✅

Did you used to…? ❌
Did you use to…? ✅

🧠 Useful Vocabulary

Before smartphones, people used to use…

a landline ☎️
a paper map 🗺️
a camera 📷
a photo album 🖼️
a newspaper 📰
an address book 📒
a phone box ☎️
a CD player 💿
paper tickets 🎟️
cash 💶
letters ✉️

LESSON 1

🗣️ 1. Warm-up: Life Before Smartphones

Complete the sentence with your ideas.

Before smartphones, people…

Examples:

called from home
used paper maps
waited more
wrote phone numbers
took fewer photos
asked people for directions

Now talk to a partner.

Questions

What was easier before smartphones?
What was more difficult?
What do people do differently now?

📖 2. Reading: Life Before Smartphones

Before smartphones, everyday life was very different. People used to call friends from a landline at home. They didn’t use to send quick messages all day. If they wanted to meet someone, they used to choose a time and a place carefully. Sometimes they waited for a long time because they couldn’t send a message.

People used to carry paper maps when they travelled. They didn’t use to check an app for directions. Many people used to take photos with a camera, but they didn’t use to take hundreds of pictures every week. They used to print their favourite photos and put them in albums.

Some things were slower, but many people say conversations used to feel more focused.

🔍 3. Quick Reading Questions

Answer the questions.

What did people use to do at home?
How did people use to find places?
Did people use to take hundreds of photos?
What does the text say about conversations?

✏️ 4. Gap-fill

Complete the sentences with used to / didn’t use to + verb.

Use these verbs:

call, carry, check, take, write, wait, use, print

People __________ friends from a landline.
They __________ apps for directions.
Many people __________ paper maps.
We __________ messages every five minutes.
Families __________ fewer photos.
People __________ phone numbers in address books.
Friends sometimes __________ for a long time.
People __________ their favourite photos.

🔀 5. Word Order

Put the words in the correct order.

use / maps / People / used / to / paper
didn’t / use / We / to / many / take / photos
you / use / Did / to / letters / write?
used / My parents / call / to / friends
people / check / didn’t / use / to / messages / all day
use / Did / to / you / get lost?

🗣️ 6. Speaking Drill: People Used To…

Complete the sentence with different ideas.

People used to…

call from home
use paper maps
buy newspapers
write letters
listen to CDs
take fewer photos
remember phone numbers
ask for directions

Now make your own ideas.

👥 7. Pair Speaking: Ask Your Partner

Ask and answer with a partner.

Did you use to write letters?
Did you use to use a paper map?
Did you use to remember many phone numbers?
Did you use to buy CDs?
Did you use to print photos?
Did you use to read paper newspapers?
Did you use to wait for friends without messaging them?
Did you use to use a camera?

Useful answers

Yes, I did. I used to…
No, I didn’t. I didn’t use to…
I’m not sure, but my family used to…
When I was younger, I used to…

🚀 8. Fast Finishers

Write three sentences.

One thing I used to do:

One thing I didn’t use to do:

One thing people used to do before smartphones:

Now compare with a partner.

LESSON 2

🔁 1. Review Starter

Complete the sentences.

I ________ to call friends from home.
People didn’t ________ to use apps.
Did you ________ to carry a map?
After used to, we use the ________ verb.

✏️ 2. Transformations

Change each sentence as requested.

People used to call friends from home.
Negative:

People used to carry paper maps.
Question:

My family used to print photos.
Negative:

We used to buy newspapers.
Question:

I used to remember phone numbers.
Negative:

Friends used to wait outside the cinema.
Question:

People used to write letters.
Negative:

My parents used to listen to the radio every morning.
Question:

We used to make plans days before.
Negative:

People used to ask for directions in the street.
Question:

📖 3. Reading / Listening: A Saturday in 1998

In 1998, Marta used to meet her friends every Saturday afternoon. They didn’t use to send messages all day. On Friday evening, they chose a place and a time. Usually, they met outside a café near the park.

Marta used to carry a small address book in her bag. It had phone numbers, birthdays, and addresses. She didn’t use to take many photos because film was expensive. When she took a good photo, she used to print it and keep it in an album.

Sometimes a friend was late. Marta couldn’t check a message, so she used to wait. After fifteen minutes, she sometimes went home. She says life is easier now, but people used to be better at making clear plans.

🔍 4. Comprehension Questions

True or False

Marta used to meet her friends on Saturdays.
Marta used to send messages all day.

Multiple Choice

When did Marta and her friends usually make plans?

a) On Saturday morning
b) On Friday evening
c) On Sunday afternoon

Why didn’t Marta use to take many photos?

a) Film was expensive.
b) She didn’t like photos.
c) She didn’t have friends.

Short Answers

What did Marta carry in her bag?

What does Marta think people were better at before?

🎤 5. Personal Q&A

Interview your partner.

Did you use to have a mobile phone when you were younger?
Did you use to call friends from home?
Did you use to use a paper map?
Did you use to print photos?
Did you use to buy CDs, DVDs, or magazines?
Did you use to write important numbers in a notebook?
What did you use to do when you were bored?
What is one thing you miss from the past?

💬 Useful Speaking Phrases

Yes, I did. I used to…
No, I didn’t. I didn’t use to…
When I was younger, I used to…
In my family, we used to…
I think life used to be…
Now life is…

🏛️ 6. Communicative Task: Then and Now Museum

Work in pairs or small groups.

Create a simple “museum” of everyday life before smartphones.

Choose five topics:

meeting friends
taking photos
finding a place
listening to music
reading the news
buying tickets
calling family
paying for things
remembering birthdays
watching films

For each topic, write two sentences.

Example

Taking photos 📷

Before smartphones, people used to take photos with a camera.
Now people usually take photos with their phones.