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A2executive20 mins

The Way Things Were

Learn to describe past habits and situations using 'used to'.

Offices change. New tools arrive. We adapt to new ways. How was work in the past? How is it now?

Ayşe: "Good morning, Can. This old photo is interesting." Can: "Yes, Ayşe. This is our office from ten years ago." Ayşe: "Wow! It looks very different. Did you use to work here then?" Can: "Yes, I did. We used to have many paper files. Everything was more manual. Today we use cloud storage." Ayşe: "I see. Today we use computers for everything. We used to print a lot, right?" Can: "Exactly. We used to send letters too. Today we use email. Technology changed many things." Ayşe: "It's much faster today. Things used to be much slower." Can: "Yes. Our old computers used to be very big. Today they are small and modern." Ayşe: "It's a big change! I like the new way." Can: "Me too. It is better."

technology

tek-NOL-o-jee

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before

bee-FOR

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change

chaynj

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manual

MAN-yoo-al

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paper

PAY-per

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slower

SLOH-er

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now

now

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modern

MOD-ern

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Subjectused toBase VerbRest of Sentence
Iused toworkin a small office.
Sheused tosendletters every day.
Wedidn't use tohavefast internet.
Didyou use tousea manual typewriter?

Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct form of 'used to'.

💡 Hint:Stealth Grammar: English sentences require an explicit verb (is/are) and article (a/the), unlike Turkish. Use the word bank below.

In the past, our company   (use) many paper forms.

Which sentence is correct?

💡 Hint:Stealth Grammar: English sentences require an explicit verb (is/are) and article (a/the), unlike Turkish. Use the word bank below.

My old boss   (travel) a lot for work, but not today.

Choose the correct question.

💡 Hint:Stealth Grammar: English sentences require an explicit verb (is/are) and article (a/the), unlike Turkish. Use the word bank below.

They   (not / have) computers in every room. It was more manual.

My first job ___ (be) very different from today.

💡 Hint:Stealth Grammar: English sentences require an explicit verb (is/are) and article (a/the), unlike Turkish. Use the word bank below.

Our team   (meet) every morning, but today we meet once a week.

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