EnglishThen and Now: Daily Routines
Used to or would?
Choose one form. First decide: past state or repeated past action?
- I used to / would have very long hair.
- Every Saturday, we used to / would visit my grandparents.
- My family used to / would live in a small flat.
- After dinner, Dad used to / would do the washing-up.
- I used to / would be afraid of dogs.
- On rainy days, we used to / would play board games.
- Our kitchen used to / would have an old gas cooker.
- Before school, Mum used to / would make us breakfast.
Talking about past habits
Grammar board
Past habit, state, or situation | Repeated past action | Verb patterns |
|---|---|---|
used to + base verb | would + base verb | enjoy / avoid / suggest + verb-ing |
I used to hate chores. | We would clean on Sundays. | I enjoy doing the laundry. |
Past situation: no longer true | Repeated action: again and again | want / decide / promise + to + verb |
let / make + object + base verb |
Put a childhood morning routine in order
Arrange these events from first to last. Then say the full routine using would.
Put the childhood morning actions in chronological order.
- Wake up early
- Get dressed
- Eat breakfast
- Walk to school
Put the household routine in order
Arrange the evening actions. Then make one sentence with used to or would.
Put the household actions in chronological order.
- Set the table
- Eat dinner
- Do the washing-up
- Take out the rubbish
Choose the best past form
My uncle [___] very shy, but now he is confident.
Choose the best past form
While Mum cooked dinner, we [___] cartoons every evening.
Complete the verb pattern
My parents made me [___] the rubbish out.
Complete the sentence
When I was younger, I [___] spicy food.
Complete the sentence
Every winter, my grandmother [___] us stories by the fire.
Complete the sentence
We decided [___] a dishwasher because washing up took too long.
Then and now
Listen once for the main idea. Listen again for details.
Talk about the dialogue
- What did Leo usually do after school?
- What household duty did Maya’s dad make her do?
- Why did Leo’s family wash everything by hand?
- How are Maya’s and Leo’s routines different now?
Kitchens then and now
Compare the two kitchens
Use at least two sentences about the past and two sentences about life now.
- What did people use to do?
- What would they often do?
- What do people do now?
- Which kitchen would you prefer? Why?
Useful frames
- People used to …
- They would often …
- Now they …
- These days, people can …
My childhood routine
Your mini-talk
Talk about five things you did as a child but do not do anymore.
Include:
- Two past states or situations.
- Three repeated actions.
- At least one household duty.
Useful language
- I used to …
- I would always …
- At weekends, I would …
- My parents made me …
- They let me …
- Now I …
- These days, I have a busy schedule.
Ideas: meals • school journey • games • chores • bedtime • weekends • kitchen appliances
My routine then and now
Write one paragraph
Write 60–120 words about how your daily routine has changed.
Include:
- at least two uses of used to
- one use of would
- one household duty
- a clear comparison between childhood and now
Useful phrases
Childhood | Now |
|---|---|
I used to … | Now I … |
I would always … | These days, I … |
My parents made me … | I decide to … |
I avoided … | I enjoy … |
Plan
- Childhood routine or situation
- Repeated childhood action
- Household duties then
- Your life now
Key points and next steps
Remember
- used to + base verb describes a past habit, state, or situation that is no longer true.
- would + base verb describes a repeated past action.
- enjoy / avoid / suggest + verb-ing
- want / decide / promise + to + verb
- let / make + object + base verb
Check the key ideas
Homework
Write five new sentences about family routines or household duties.
- Write three then-and-now sentences with used to or would.
- Write two sentences with a verb pattern from today.
- Include one sentence about a kitchen appliance or a household duty.
