Past Routines

 Unit 5

This unit we learned past routines (USED TO /WOULD/GET USED TO)

We use “used to” to express actions that were performed in the past and there aren't carried out any more. Also, is used only with static verbs.

Would is used to express actions that were performed in past solely. We have to use would with dynamic actions.

"Is used to" is used to express that someone or something is being familiar with an action.  

“Is getting used to” is used to express or explain the process which the thing or the person is being become accustomed of the recent situation. 

Examples:

When I was living near to the beach, I used to swim all the weekend with my friends.

When I was 15 I would play the guitar every Sunday with my brother and my cousin.

Maria is used to drink orange juice in the mornings.

Paul and Carmen are getting used to living in a foreign country.

After the explanation, the professor gave us to do the page 57 of the active book and for homework the she gave us some pages according with the topics that we had been learned. These homework helped us to strengthen the themes that the professor taught us.

Expressing degrees of ability

These are modal verbs that express the possibility to do a determinate action, with exception “be able”, because this can be conjugated in all verbal tenses.

Could is used for express a possibility to do something, but could as the same time is the past of can.

Examples:

She can drive at night.

They can run faster.

Antoine could be the champion of the match (a possibility to do something).

He could speak to you tomorrow.

Be able to…..

As I mention before we can use can (not), could (not) or be able to express ability.  But we must be careful in certain things:

 

Don’t use can for future ability when you are talking about things you learn. Use will be able to. (Focus on Grammar 3 2006, 2000, 1994 by Pearson Education, Inc.)

Don’t use could in affirmative statements for a single event in the past. Use was/were able to. (Focus on Grammar 3 2006, 2000, 1994 by Pearson Education, Inc.)

 Examples:                “be able to”

When I finished learning to cook, I’ll be able to make a banquet to my family.

I was able to dance in front of my school for a half hour. It was stressful to me. 

Negative form of     Can /Could

In negative form is necessary to add the word not for both cases. In the case of the words “Cannot”, the contraction is “Can't”. For “could not”, the contraction is “Couldn't”.

Examples:

I couldn't speak with my friend Eowyn before leaving.
He can’t eat nuts because he´s allergic.
Marc and Mary can´t go to the party because they have homework to do.
Can you go to the store with me?