Week 38 – Comparing now vs past

Week 38 – Comparing now vs past (used to, light be/get used to, A2+/B1‑)

Theme: Talking about how things were different in the past vs now; expressing habits and states in the past, and getting accustomed to new situations.

Main grammar & functions:

• used to + verb for past habits and states that are not true now:
  • I used to live in a village., She used to smoke., There used to be a cinema here.
• Very light introduction to be used to / get used to + noun/verb-ing (recognition, a few models):
  • I’m used to getting up early., I’m getting used to my new job.

CEFR link:

A2+/B1‑: Can compare past and present habits and situations using simple structures (CEFR: “Can describe habits in the past and present and highlight differences.”)

1. Lesson objectives (for students)

By the end of the week, students can:

1. Use used to + verb to talk about past habits and states that have changed.
2. Make positive, negative and question forms with used to.
3. Compare past vs now in their own life and in their city/country.
4. Understand and use a few simple sentences with be/get used to about new habits (recognition level).

2. Grammar focus (with Ukrainian‑speaker notes)

a) used to + verb – past habits & states

Meaning:

• Something was true/regular in the past, but not now:
  • I used to live with my parents. (Now I don’t.)
  • She used to eat a lot of fast food. (Now she doesn’t.)
  • There used to be a park here. (Now there isn’t.)

Form:

• Positive: subject + used to + verb
  • I used to play football every day.
  • We used to go to the sea every summer.

• Negative (two options – choose 1 to emphasise):
  • didn’t use to + verb (most common teaching form):
    • I didn’t use to like English.
    • She didn’t use to drink coffee.
  • (Spoken variant used not to exists, but you can skip it at this level.)

• Questions: Did + subject + use to + verb?
  • Did you use to live in a village?
  • Did he use to smoke?

Pronunciation note:

• In fast speech, used to often sounds like yoosta.

Ukrainian issues:

• Learners may want to use simple past for everything:
  • I lived in a village – correct, but doesn’t clearly show "not now".
• Spelling in negative/questions:
  • didn’t used to ✗ → didn’t use to ✔ (no -d after did).

b) be used to / get used to (recognition)

Only introduce simple, high‑frequency patterns; don’t go deep.

Meaning (simple):

• be used to – something is normal / not difficult now.
  • I’m used to getting up early. (It’s normal for me now.)
  • She’s used to cold weather. (It’s not a problem.)

• get used to – the process of becoming comfortable with something new.
  • I’m getting used to my new job.
  • He’s getting used to driving on the left.

Form:

• be used to + noun / verb-ing
• get used to + noun / verb-ing

You can mainly treat these as chunks for this week (recognition, a few production sentences); main productive focus stays on used to + verb.

Ukrainian issues:

• Confusing used to + verb (past habit) with be used to + noun/-ing (accustomed):
  • I used to getting up early ✗ vs I’m used to getting up early ✔.
• At this level, show a few clear minimal pairs and keep explanations short.

3. Vocabulary sets

Past vs now – personal life:

• live: in a village / city / small town / dormitory / with parents / alone
• study/work: at school, at university, in another company
• habits: play outside, play computer games, watch TV, read books, eat fast food, do exercise

Past vs now – city/country:

• There used to be: a park, a factory, a cinema, small houses, few cars
• Now there is/are: new buildings, shopping centres, more cars, bike lanes, etc.

Be/get used to:

• getting up early, working at night, using English at work, living in a big city, cold weather, hot summers

4. Lesson skeleton (60–90 minutes)

1) Warm‑up – My life 10 years ago (10–15 min)

• On the board, write: 10 years ago / Now (or "When I was a child / Now").
• Students in pairs quickly note 3–4 differences in their lives (in L1 or simple English).
• Take a few examples and write simple Past vs Present pairs:
  • "I lived in a village. Now I live in a city."
  • "I played outside every day. Now I work a lot."

2) Presentation – used to for past habits (15–20 min)

1. Show a mini text:

Example:

When I was a child, I used to live in a small village. I used to play outside every day and I used to watch a lot of cartoons. I didn’t use to eat vegetables. Now I live in a big city and I eat healthy food.

2. Underline used to + verb and didn’t use to + verb.
3. Elicit meaning: past habit/state that is not true now.
4. Form box on the board:
   • + I used to play…
   • – I didn’t use to play…
   • ? Did you use to play…?

5. Controlled exercise: gap‑fill sentences about childhood using used to and didn’t use to.

3) Practice – Did you use to…? (15–20 min)

Pair work interview.

1. Give students prompts:
   • play outside every day
   • have a pet
   • be afraid of the dark
   • go to bed late
   • live in another place
   • eat a lot of sweets
2. Students ask each other:
   • "Did you use to play outside every day?"
   • "Did you use to have a pet?"
3. They answer and ask follow‑up questions in Past Simple for details:
   • "Yes, I did. I used to play with my friends in the yard."
   • "No, I didn’t. I used to stay at home."

4) City/country changes – There used to be… (10–15 min)

1. On the board, show contrasts about a city/town:
   • "There used to be a small park here. Now there is a big shopping centre."
   • "There used to be few cars. Now there are a lot of cars."
2. Students think about their city/village and write 3–4 sentences:
   • "There used to be… / There didn’t use to be… Now there is/are…"
3. Share in pairs or small groups.

5) Light introduction – be/get used to (10–15 min)

1. Present 2–3 simple sentences on the board:
   • At first it was difficult to get up at 6, but now I’m used to getting up early.
   • My friend moved to Norway. At first it was very cold, but now she’s used to the cold weather.
   • I started a new job. I’m getting used to my new colleagues.
2. Explain simply:
   • be used to = it’s normal now.
   • get used to = now it’s becoming normal.
3. Ask students to convert 1–2 of their own situations into these patterns (optional, only if comfortable):
   • "I’m used to…" / "I’m getting used to…"

6) Freer practice – Past vs now mini‑presentation (15–20 min)

Students prepare a short comparison of their past and present life.

1. Planning notes: when I was a child / five years ago vs now (home, school/work, free time, habits).
2. They write 6–8 sentences using:
   • 3–4 sentences with used to / didn’t use to.
   • 2–3 sentences about now (Present Simple).
   • Optionally 1 sentence with be/get used to.

Example:

• "I used to live in a village, but now I live in a city."
• "I used to play outside every day, but now I work a lot."
• "I didn’t use to drink coffee, but now I drink it every morning."
• "Now I’m used to getting up early."

3. Students share in small groups; classmates can ask simple follow‑up questions.

5. Homework / revision ideas

Choose 1–2:

1. Writing – My life before and now
   • Students write a short paragraph (8–10 sentences) comparing their life in the past (childhood / five years ago) and now, using used to / didn’t use to and Present Simple.

2. City changes
   • Students write 5–6 sentences about how their town/city has changed:
     • "There used to be… / There didn’t use to be… Now there is/are…"

3. Be/get used to examples
   • Students write 3 sentences about things they are used to and 2 about things they are getting used to (e.g., using English at work, commuting, new routines).