Aboriginal Australia – from the desert to the big city
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used to go or used to going? Only one small word is different – but the meaning is completely different! Read about Jarrah, an Aboriginal girl from the desert, and find out what the difference is.
Jarrah’s text has two different forms with used to. Choose a pen and tap the phrases in the text:
Tap a phrase again to remove the colour. Then tap Check.
Look at your yellow and blue phrases. What is different? Answer the questions – then check your ideas with the rules below.
🤔 First work out the rules yourself in Task 2. Then compare your ideas here.
(= früher, aber heute nicht mehr)
for habits and states in the past that are not true anymore.
I used to speak Warlpiri all day.
Negative: didn’t use to + infinitive
I didn’t use to wear shoes very often.
Question: Did … use to + infinitive?
Did you use to walk to school?
only in the past · same form for all persons · after did/didn’t: use (no -d!)
(= an etwas gewöhnt sein, etwas gewohnt sein)
Something is normal for you – you know it well.
I am used to having hot, dry days.
| ✅ | I am used to · you/we/they are used to · he/she/it is used to + -ing |
| ❌ | I am not used to · he isn’t used to · they aren’t used to + -ing |
| ❓ | Are you used to + -ing? – Yes, I am. / No, I’m not. |
After be used to you can also use a noun: I’m used to the heat.
📅 Later (Round 2): be can be in other tenses, too: I was used to … · I will be used to …
ℹ️ Good to know – not in the test: get used to + -ing (= sich an etwas gewöhnen)
Something new slowly becomes normal: Slowly I am getting used to living in the city.
You only need to understand it. In the test we focus on be used to.
We used to get up early on Saturdays. → in the past, but not anymore.
We are used to getting up early. → it’s normal for us now.
🧠 Memory trick: no be in front? → past (it’s over) + infinitive. am / is / are in front? → normal + -ing.
More help in your book: page 115 (LF 2 and LF 3).
Start easy: In Round 1, be used to is always in the Simple Present (am / is / are used to). The exercises get harder – climb up! 🧗
Choose the correct form.
Write the verb in brackets in the correct form: live or living?
Now write the whole form in the Simple Present: am / is / are (not) used to + -ing – and questions: Are you used to …?
Well done! Now be changes its tense: was / were used to (past) · will be used to (future). After used to there is still the -ing form!
Write the whole form. The hint tells you the tense.
No help this time! Read the situation. Is it over (used to) or normal (be used to)? Which tense? Write the missing words.
Think about yourself in primary school and today. Draw this table in your exercise book and write three sentences in each column.
I used to + verb …
I’m used to / I’m not used to + -ing …
Then check: Mark the verb after used to in your sentences – yellow if it’s the infinitive, blue if it ends in -ing. Is there am / is / are in front of every blue one? ✅
Finished? Read one THEN sentence and one NOW sentence to your partner. Your partner says: “That’s over!” or “That’s normal now!”