Poacher, Gamekeeper — usually & used to (B1 Grammar)

B1 used to and past habits

Poacher, Gamekeeper

PICTURE

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"I used to steal from people like you." Today she trains the police.

*usually* + present simple · *used to / didn't use to* · *used to* vs the past simple

Reading

Speaking

LEAD-IN

Do people change?

Agree or disagree? Discuss.

"People never really change. A liar is always a liar; a thief is always a thief."

Give examples both for and against this idea.

If you think people can change, what makes them change?

PICTURE

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BEFORE YOU READ

Poacher turned gamekeeper

Nadia, 41, spent most of her twenties working the metro systems of three European capitals. Today she trains police forces and security companies.

READ ONCE AND ANSWER

PICTURE

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1. What did Nadia use to do? (in the past)

2. What does she do now?

READING

"I used to steal from people like you"

A reformed pickpocket explains her trade

Nadia, 41, spent most of her twenties working the metro systems of three European capitals. Today she runs training sessions for police forces and security companies. Poacher turned gamekeeper, as the English say.

"People imagine pickpockets used to grab and run. Amateurs did that. Professionals never used to run — running is what gets you caught. We used to work in teams of three: one to block, one to lift, one to walk away with the goods. I was the lifter. I used to wear office clothes and carry a folder, because nobody suspects a woman who looks like she works in a bank."

"Tourists used to be easy, but honestly, locals were easier. Tourists at least used to expect thieves. A local man on his usual route home never used to look up at all. I could tell you where a man kept his wallet before he was within ten metres of me. I still

can, actually — I just don't act on it any more."

"Did I use to feel guilty? Not at the time. I used to tell myself insurance would pay. That was a lie, of course, and I knew it. There was one wallet — it had a hospital appointment card inside, and photos of the man's kids. I didn't sleep that night. That's when things started to change."

"These days my life is almost boringly honest. I usually get up at six, I go to the gym, I pay taxes — me, taxes! But old habits die hard. I still usually sit with my back to the wall in cafés. And when someone brushes against me on the metro, my hand still usually goes straight to my bag. I know exactly what that brush can mean."

COMPREHENSION

True, false or not mentioned? (T / F / NM)

1. Professional pickpockets generally ran after stealing. ______

2. Nadia dressed smartly on purpose. ______

3. Locals were more careful than tourists. ______

4. Nadia was arrested several times. ______

5. One specific wallet changed how she felt. ______

6. She now feels completely relaxed on public transport. ______

GRAMMAR FOCUS

Then and now

a) We used to work in teams of three.

b) A local man never used to look up at all.

c) Did I use to feel guilty?

d) I usually get up at six.

e) There was one wallet with photos inside. I didn't sleep that night.

1. Which sentences describe past habits or states that are no longer true? What structure do they use?

2. What happens to used to in negatives and questions — (b) and (c)? Careful with the spelling!

3. Sentence (d) is a present habit. Can we say I use to get up at six for the present? What do we use instead?

4. Look at (e). This happened once, on a specific night. Can we use used to for single events? Which tense must we use?

THE RULES

Complete the rules

• For past habits and states we use ________ + infinitive (negative: didn't use to; we often say never used to).

• Used to does not exist in the ________ tense. For present habits: usually / normally + present simple.

• For actions that happened only ________, or with exact dates or numbers of times, use the past simple. NOT I used to go to Paris last year.

CAREFUL

Don't confuse used to do (a past habit) with be / get used to doing (be or become accustomed to): I'm used to getting up early — it's not a problem for me.

PRACTICE

Right or wrong? Correct the grammatically wrong ones.

1. Nadia use to steal wallets on the metro.

2. She didn't use to feel guilty at the time.

3. Did your parents used to give you pocket money?

4. I used to trust everyone. Then I got a flatmate.

5. He used to get caught twice in 2009.

6. We don't use to go out much any more — we have a baby.

7. I usually keep my wallet in my front pocket these days.

8. She used to go running three times a week.

SPEAKING

Past lives

Tell your partner about a time when you were a very different person — school? your first job? before kids?

• Use used to / never used to / didn't use to for then.

• Use usually for now.

• Your partner's job: find the single biggest change and report it to the class.

PICTURE

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TEACHER'S REFERENCE · HIDE OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key

GIST She used to steal wallets professionally on metro systems; now she trains police forces and security companies.

COMPREHENSION 1 F (professionals never used to run) · 2 T · 3 F (locals were easier, so less careful) · 4 NM · 5 T · 6 F (her hand still goes to her bag).

GRAMMAR FOCUS 1 (a) and (b) — used to + infinitive. 2 It becomes use to: didn't use to, Did ... use to? 3 No — usually / normally + present simple. 4 No — the past simple only.

RULES used to · present · once

PRACTICE 1 wrong — used to steal

2 right

3 wrong — Did your parents use to give...?

4 right

5 wrong — He got caught / was caught twice in 2009 (an exact number of times)

6 wrong — We don't usually go out much any more

7 right

8 wrong — get used to living