How to Use “Used to” for Past Habits in IELTS Writing and Speaking?

The structure “used to” is a common grammatical feature that often appears in IELTS exams, particularly in the Writing and Speaking sections. It’s used to describe past habits or states that are no longer true …

Used to grammar structure

The structure “used to” is a common grammatical feature that often appears in IELTS exams, particularly in the Writing and Speaking sections. It’s used to describe past habits or states that are no longer true in the present. Understanding and using this structure correctly can significantly enhance your IELTS performance.

Understanding the Meaning and Frequency in IELTS

“Used to” is employed to talk about past habits, regular actions, or states that have changed. It’s particularly useful in IELTS tasks where you need to compare past and present situations or describe how things have changed over time.

Examples:

  1. “I used to live in a small town, but now I reside in a bustling city.”
  2. “She used to play tennis every weekend, but she has taken up swimming recently.”
  3. “They used to be close friends, but they’ve grown apart over the years.”

In these examples, “used to” indicates actions or states that were true in the past but are no longer true now. This structure appears frequently in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays about social changes, personal experiences, or environmental issues. In Speaking, it’s often used in Part 2 when describing past experiences or in Part 3 when discussing societal changes.

Used to grammar structureUsed to grammar structure

Grammar Formula and Usage in IELTS

The basic formula for “used to” is:

Subject + used to + base form of verb

It’s important to note that “used to” is always in this form, regardless of the subject. The negative form is “didn’t use to,” and the question form is “Did … use to?”

Examples for different IELTS sections:

  1. Writing Task 2: “In the past, people used to rely on traditional media for news, but now social media platforms have become the primary source of information.”

  2. Speaking Part 2: “When I was a child, I used to spend my summers at my grandparents’ farm. We used to wake up early every morning to help with the chores.”

  3. Writing Task 1: “The graph shows that in 1990, 70% of households used to have landline phones, but by 2020, this figure had dropped to just 20%.”

  4. Speaking Part 3: “Families used to eat dinner together every night, but nowadays, busy schedules often prevent this tradition.”

  5. Writing Task 2: “Education systems used to focus primarily on academic subjects, but there’s now a growing emphasis on practical skills and emotional intelligence.”

Sample Paragraphs and Sentences

Here are some sample paragraphs demonstrating how to incorporate “used to” in different IELTS tasks:

Writing Task 2 (Education):
“Education has undergone significant changes in recent decades. Schools used to prioritize rote learning and memorization, but modern educational approaches now emphasize critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students used to spend most of their time passively listening to lectures, whereas today’s classrooms often feature interactive and collaborative learning experiences. Moreover, technology, which used to be absent from most learning environments, has now become an integral part of education.”

Speaking Part 2 (Describing a childhood memory):
“One of my fondest childhood memories is of the summers I spent at my grandparents’ house. We used to visit them every year during the school holidays. Their house used to be surrounded by vast fields where my cousins and I used to play for hours. My grandmother used to bake the most delicious apple pies, and the smell used to fill the entire house. Those summers used to feel endless, and I used to dread going back to the city when it was time to leave.”

IELTS writing sample using 'used to'IELTS writing sample using 'used to'

Strategies for High Band Scores

To achieve a higher band score in IELTS, it’s crucial to use “used to” accurately and in context. Here are some strategies:

  1. Contrast past and present: Use “used to” to highlight significant changes. For example: “Cities used to be much smaller and less populated, but rapid urbanization has led to the megacities we see today.”

  2. Combine with other tenses: Mix “used to” with other past tenses for more sophisticated language. For example: “While I used to struggle with public speaking, I gradually overcame my fear through practice and joined the debate club last year.”

  3. Use in complex sentences: Incorporate “used to” in complex sentence structures. For example: “Despite the fact that people used to be more reliant on face-to-face interactions, the advent of social media has revolutionized the way we communicate.”

  4. Avoid overuse: While “used to” is useful, don’t overuse it. Vary your language with other past tense forms and structures.

  5. Use in idiomatic expressions: Some idiomatic expressions use this structure, which can boost your score. For example: “I’m not used to this cold weather” or “It took some time to get used to living alone.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Confusion with “be used to”: Don’t confuse “used to” (for past habits) with “be used to” (for things we’re accustomed to).
    Incorrect: “I used to the noise in the city.”
    Correct: “I am used to the noise in the city” or “I used to find the city noise disturbing.”

  2. Using it for short-term or one-time past actions:
    Incorrect: “I used to go to Paris last summer.”
    Correct: “I went to Paris last summer.”

  3. Adding “-ed” to the main verb:
    Incorrect: “I used to played football every weekend.”
    Correct: “I used to play football every weekend.”

  4. Using it with specific time expressions:
    Incorrect: “I used to visit my grandmother yesterday.”
    Correct: “I visited my grandmother yesterday.”

  5. Using the present tense form after “used to”:
    Incorrect: “He used to goes to the gym regularly.”
    Correct: “He used to go to the gym regularly.”

Conclusion

Mastering the “used to” structure can significantly enhance your IELTS performance, especially in Writing Task 2 and Speaking Parts 2 and 3. It allows you to discuss past habits and changes effectively, adding depth to your responses. Remember to use it accurately, in context, and in combination with other tenses for the best results. Practice using this structure in various contexts related to common IELTS topics such as technology, education, environment, and social changes to prepare for your exam.

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