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I used to be a student



Aim of this lesson: learn how to talk about past states and habits which are no longer true and learn vocabulary related to schools and school subjects.

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Dialogue



Read the following dialogue then practice it with a partner if possible. Does John live in Nottingham? Does John play football?

John is meeting Mr. Roberts for a job interview in Manchester.

John  What would you like to know, sir?  
Mr. Roberts  Could you tell me about your hobbies and what you do in your free time? 
John  When I was younger I used to play football every week. I even played for my local team. Unfortunately, I don't have time to play any more. When I have the time I usually go to the theatre, play tennis or walk in the countryside. 
Mr. Roberts  Do you drive? 
John  I can drive but I don't have a car any more. I don't need one because I always use the bus. 
Mr. Roberts  Have you always lived in Manchester? 
John  I didn't use to live in Manchester. I used to live in Nottingham but I moved here to find work. 
Mr. Roberts  OK thank you Robert. I will contact you in the next few days. 

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Grammar Focus - Used to, No longer, Usually



Form  Usage  Example 
used to + infinitive (without to)  used to talk about past events which are not true now.  "I used to play football (but now I don't)" = I played football in the past. Now I don't play. 
no longer + infinitive (without to)  used to talk about past events which are not true now.  "I no longer play football" = I played football in the past. Now I don't play. 
usually + infinitive (without to)  used to talk about present situations  "I usually play football" 
* With used to we can specify that it doesn't happen now (as in the example above).
* With
no longer we can't say that it doesn't happen now as this is assumed.
* "I used to live in Madrid but now I don't" but not "I no longer live in Madrid but now I don't" use instead just "I no longer live in Madrid". 

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Vocabulary Focus - School



Word  Definition 
timetable  document which tells you what time you have lessons 
canteen  place in a school where students eat lunch 
home economics  subject where students learn to cook 
physics  subject where you study forces, gravity and energy 
maths (math in the USA)  subject where you study numbers 
schoolmate  another word for your friends at school 
packed lunch  Lunch for students prepared at home by their mother or father 
to play truant  informal name for when a student chooses NOT to go to school 
head teacher (principal in the USA)  the boss or director of the school 

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Speaking about School



Try asking and answering these questions in pairs. If you're working alone then write down your answers. Remember that if you're still studying you should answer using the present simple. If you've finished studying then you should answer using the past simple or with used to.

  • What is/was your favourite school subject?
  • What subjects are/were you good at?
  • What subject or sport did you use to be good at?
  • Who is/was your favourite and worst school teacher? Why?
  • Do/Did you like school? Why?

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Exercises



Complete the following sentences using used to, usually or no longer:''

  1. Do you play football? I __ play but now I have no free time.
  2. Every weekend I meet my friends and we __ go to the cinema.
  3. I _ live in Germany. I love living in Spain.
  4. What do you __ do at the weekend?
  5. I'm sad because I __ have the time to meet my friends for a drink.
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