2

The Shady Past of a Butterfly

Focus on Grammar 3Part I, Unit 5By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Used to

…I used to be a caterpillar!

…I used to be a caterpillar!

Hello!Hello!

I am Madame Butterfly …

I am Madame Butterfly …

… and I am beautiful!

… and I am beautiful!…I used to look very different!

…I used to look very different!

The Secret Life of a Butterfly 1The Secret Life of a Butterfly 1

But let me tell you …

But let me tell you …

I used to live on plants …

I used to live on plants …

The gardener was not happy with me!

The gardener was not happy with me!

… and I used to eat sweet, young, green

leaves. Mmmmm.

… and I used to eat sweet, young, green

leaves. Mmmmm.

I used to get into trouble for it too.

I used to get into trouble for it too.

The Secret Life of a Butterfly 2The Secret Life of a Butterfly 2

He used to come running after me to

catch me.

He used to come running after me to

catch me.

But I used to hide under leaves where

he could not see me.

But I used to hide under leaves where

he could not see me.

That used to drive him crazy. And I

used to love that too.

That used to drive him crazy. And I

used to love that too.

The Secret Life of a Butterfly 3The Secret Life of a Butterfly 3

Used to 1

I used to be a caterpillar!I used to be a caterpillar!

base form

Use used to + base form of the verb to talk about past habits or past situations that no longer exist in the present.

Be Careful!

I used to eat green leaves.

I used to eat green leaves.

base form

I don’t eat leaves today. I drink the nectar of flowers!

I don’t eat leaves today. I drink the nectar of flowers!

Used to always refers to the past. There is no present form.

Used to 2

• Use used to in sentences that contrast the past and the present. Time expressions such as now, no longer, or not anymore emphasize the contrast.

I used to hide from the gardener, but I

don’t do that anymore.

I used to hide from the gardener, but I

don’t do that anymore.

Now, I fly right around his face, and he doesn’t scream at

me any longer.

Now, I fly right around his face, and he doesn’t scream at

me any longer.

Practice 1Write about three things you used to do. Add sentences in the present using now, no longer, or not anymore.

The gardener used to scream when he saw caterpillars.The gardener used to scream when he saw caterpillars.

Example:

Now, he doesn’t scream at the beautiful butterflies.Now, he doesn’t scream at the beautiful butterflies.

Negative with Used to

Form the negative with didn’t + use to or never + used to + base form.

Madame Butterfly didn’t used to have wings.

I didn’t use to be so beautiful!

use

base form

No –d with did !!

Questions with Used to

No –d with did !!

Form questions with did + use to + base form.

Did you used to look different?

Did the gardener use to try to catch you?

use

base form

Practice 2Look at the sentences with used to. Form questions and negative statements for each sentence.

The gardener used to love the caterpillar.Example:Did the gardener use to love the caterpillar?

The gardener didn’t use to love the caterpillar.

The butterfly used to be ugly.

The caterpillar used to drink the nectar of flowers.

The gardener used to leave the caterpillar alone.

Madame Butterfly used to live in a house.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Did the butterfly use to look different?

The butterfly didn’t use to look different.

Did the caterpillar use to drink the nectar of flowers?

The caterpillar didn’t use to drink the nectar of flowers.

Did the gardener use to leave the caterpillar alone?

The gardener didn’t use to leave the caterpillar alone.

Did Madame Butterfly use to live in a house?

Madame Butterfly didn’t use to live in a house.

And I quickly got got used toused to drinking drinking

the nectarthe nectar of beautiful flowers.

And I quickly got got used toused to drinking drinking

the nectarthe nectar of beautiful flowers.

Be Used to & Get Used toBe Used to & Get Used to

Life is good when you are beautiful!

Life is good when you are beautiful!

Today life is very different.Today life is

very different.

I am used toam used to peoplepeople lovingloving me.I am used toam used to peoplepeople lovingloving me.

My friend and I are are used toused to gettinggetting lots of compliments.

My friend and I are are used toused to gettinggetting lots of compliments.

Be Careful!

Do not confuse used toused to + base form of the verb with be used to be used to or get used toget used to.

We used to eat green leaves.

We are used to eating the nectar of flowers.

Form of be

We got used to eating leaves and leaves and flowers.flowers.

Form of get

Be Careful!

Be used to used to meansmeans be accustomed to. be accustomed to. Get used to Get used to means means get accustomed to.

I am used to peopleam used to people lovingloving me.

She got used to gettinggot used to getting lots of compliments.

References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.