'Used to' and 'be used to'

Use used to + verb to talk about past habits or preferences.

Kayla used to like punk music.
Ted used to watch cartoons, but now he
listens to music.

Kayla used to like punk music.

Ted used to watch cartoons, but now he listens
to music.

Use be used to + noun to talk about something you're accustomed to.

Mark is used to loud music. He was in a
rock band.
She has a headache. She's not used to
punk rock concerts.

Mark is used to loud music. He was in a rock

band.
She has a headache. She's not used to punk rock
concerts.

In questions and negatives, the d in used to is dropped when talking about something you did in
the past.
A: Did you use to like folk music?
B: No, I did not use to like folk music.

Did you use to like folk music?

No, I did not use to like folk music.

FEMALE: What are you listening to?

MALE: Clunk.
FEMALE: Oh, Clunk. The punk singer?
MALE: Yeah. I mean, he used to play punk music
FEMALE: Used to ?
MALE: Now he's a folk singer.
FEMALE: A folk singer? Weird! So, now you like folk?
MALE: Yeah, I do. I mean, I like Clunk's folk. He uses a lot of piano now.
FEMALE: But I thought you liked punk music.
MALE: Oh, I still like punk. But I used to enjoy only punk. Now, I'm enjoying different music
styles.
FEMALE: What happened?
MALE: Well, I'm used to loud music, but now I seem to like quiet music, too. Surprising, huh?
FEMALE: Wow. That's a big change! I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You like change.
MALE: Yeah. I guess I do.

Recognizing fillers
People use expressions such as you know and like to fill the silence while they're thinking about
what to say next. Generally, fillers have no real meaning, but it's important to be able to
recognize them, if only so you can focus on what the person is really saying.

Here are some examples of fillers:

Ben's got tickets for that techno band - you
know, Rokmo.
Jazz is the best. I mean, the music is so
complex and unpredictable.
This music is, like, way too loud.
He was, uh, a DJ in high school.

Ben's got tickets for that techno band - you

know, Rokmo.
Jazz is the best. I mean, the music is so
complex and unpredictable.
This music is, like, way too loud.
He was, uh, a DJ in high school.

Language note: You can use fillers in conversation to make your speech sound more natural;
however, overuse of fillers can sound annoying and repetitive.
Words for music
Use words like these to talk about the different kinds of media to record and listen to music.
I still prefer the sound of my old LP records. I still prefer the sound of my old LP records.
My father used to buy a lot of CDs.
My father used to buy a lot of CDs.
Most of my music these days is MP3s.
Most of my music these days is MP3s.
Language note: LP and CD are acronyms.
LP = long-playing
CD = compact disc
MP3 is not so straightforward. It stands for MPEG Audio Layer 3.
You can use these words to talk about ways to access digital music.
My music subscription lets me listen to
millions of songs at a cheap rate.
If you stream digital music over the internet,
you don't have to download it to your
computer.

My music subscription lets me listen to

millions of songs at a cheap rate.
If you stream digital music over the internet,
you don't have to download it to your
computer.

As digital music has become more widely used, the record industry has experienced more
copyright problems. Use words like these to talk about legal issues and music.

Illegal downloading is a big problem for the Illegal downloading is a big problem for the
music industry.
music industry.
It's against the law to share music for free. It's against the law to share music for free.
Digital music play it on your computer or mobile device!
2 CDs a month $15
20 MP3s a month $15
20 digital downloads to your computer
Monthly subscription $10
You can stream any song, anytime. You do not keep the music.
____________________________________________________
Vinyl records for the serious collector!
1 LP a month $55
Do not share music with your friends. Sharing is illegal, and myTurn is against it. We believe
you must pay for your music before you download it.

digital disc with sound or information on it: CD

against the law: illegal
put something on your computer: download
play video or music directly from the internet: stream
payment made once a year, or monthly, or weekly, for a regular service: subscription

Predicting before reading

You will understand a text better if you can predict what's in it before you
read. Use the headline, or title, as well as any pictures to work out what the
text is about. Then try to predict the kind of vocabulary you might encounter.

Let's practice predicting. You're about to read an article titled Illegal Music.
Beside the text is a picture of someone doing an illegal download. Which of
the following words do you think will most likely appear in the article?
digital
prescription
earthquake
download
subscription
salty
If you chose digital, download and subscription, you are correct. All of these words are related
to downloading illegal music.

More and more people are buying digital music, but companies are still getting less and less
profit. That's because music is often illegally downloaded from the internet. Songs are shared for
free between people's computers no one pays for them. "It's a serious problem for the music
business," said Dan Coates, CEO at myTurn, an online music service.
In the 1990s, sales were supported by CDs. "But no one buys CDs anymore," says Coates.
To help stop illegal downloading, companies like myTurn are offering music subscriptions. The
companies believe that if an inexpensive subscription is offered, people will be less interested in
illegal downloading. Subscriptions are from $10 to $20 a month, and they're getting cheaper and
cheaper.

Talking about trends

Use expressions like these to talk about trends.
These days, more and more people are sharing
music.
The way it's going, everyone will soon stream
music.
People tend to buy digital music, not records.
The trend of illegally downloading music is
increasing.

These days, more and more people are sharing

music.
The way it's going, everyone will soon stream
music.
People tend to buy digital music, not records.
The trend of illegally downloading music is
increasing.

Profits are plummeting in parts of the music

business.

Profits are plummeting in parts of the music

business.

Fewer and fewer people are buying CDs those these this days.
The way day say it's going, no one will buy music. So many people are sharing it for free.
Digital music is cool, but people tend tended trend trended to download it illegally.
Maybe that will start a new tender trendy tend trend to subscribe to music.

Friday 12/20
The Greg Miller Orchestra celebrates popular instrumentals , with the India
Orchestra, Blanca Center, 6:30 p.m.
Acoustic Festival comes to six venues on High Street, 7 p.m.
Hip-hop artists F. Light and Little L read musical poems to fans at Music Hall of
London, 8 p.m. DJ Varna brings his group Two Horse Garage to Mellon Hall, 9 p.m.

Persuading
There are several ways to persuade someone to do something. You can use expressions like these
to directly persuade or convince:
Come on!
Please!
You'll have a great time.
It'll be good for you to get out.

Come on!
Please!
You'll have a great time.
It'll be good for you to get out.

You can give details that make the proposal seem more attractive.
Tonight he's playing acoustic guitar at a
small club.

Tonight he's playing acoustic guitar at a small

club.

You can offer something that makes the proposal more attractive.
I'll buy the tickets.
Look, I'll pay, and I'll drive.

I'll buy the tickets.

Look. I'll pay, and I'll drive.

You can criticize the person. However, this approach can be somewhat negative unless delivered
lightheartedly.
You're such a couch potato.
Don't be lazy. You need to get out of the
house.

You're such a couch potato.

Don't be lazy. You need to get out of the
house.

Use expressions like these to respond when someone tries to persuade you:
Fine. You've convinced me.
No, but thanks for inviting me.

Fine. You've convinced me.

No, but thanks for inviting me.

Adjectives for music

People often have strong opinions about music. Here are some common adjectives used for
describing music.
My mother loves listening to sad,
sentimental music.
It's our wedding anniversary. Let's
listen to something romantic.
Can you turn down the radio? That
song is so annoying.
Punk music isn't for everybody. It can
be very rough.
That song is offensive. The lyrics are
very rude.
I like music that's different. You know,
a little edgy.

My mother loves listening to sad, sentimental music.

It's our wedding anniversary. Let's listen to
something romantic.
Can you turn down the radio? That song is so
annoying.
Punk music isn't for everybody. It can be very rough.
That song is offensive. The lyrics are very rude.
I like music that's different. You know, a little edgy.

I like songs about people falling in love. They're so romantic annoying rough .
The song's annoying offensive sentimental and sad. It's about a sweet, old man who goes back to
the place where he was born.
Wow. This music's sentimental romantic annoying . The electric guitar's driving me crazy.
His voice is pretty rough romantic sentimental . He sounds kind of wild.

I love Clang's music. It's all so offensive edgy annoying . They have a totally original sound.
How rude! The lyrics are so edgy romantic offensive

Describing a song
You can describe a song in several ways. You can talk about the singer's voice (voice):
She can hit some really high notes.
The singer doesn't have much of a range.

She can hit some really high notes.

The singer doesn't have much of a range.

You can talk about the song's melody (melody), or tune (tune):
The song has kind of a sentimental melody. The song has kind of a sentimental melody.
The tune is pretty catchy - I can't get it out The tune is pretty catchy - I can't get it out of
of my head.
my head.

You can talk about the song's rhythm (rhythm):

You can really dance to it.
There isn't much of a beat.

You can really dance to it.

There isn't much of a beat.

You can talk about the song's lyrics (lyrics):

I love this song! The lyrics are so
romantic!
Ugh. Those lyrics are really offensive.

I love this song! The lyrics are so romantic!

Ugh. Those lyrics are really offensive.

Describing a song
You can describe a song in several ways. You can talk about the singer's voice (voice):
She can hit some really high notes.
The singer doesn't have much of a range.

She can hit some really high notes.

The singer doesn't have much of a range.

You can talk about the song's melody (melody), or tune (tune):
The song has kind of a sentimental melody. The song has kind of a sentimental melody.
The tune is pretty catchy - I can't get it out The tune is pretty catchy - I can't get it out of

of my head.

my head.

You can talk about the song's rhythm (rhythm):

You can really dance to it.
There isn't much of a beat.

You can really dance to it.

There isn't much of a beat.

You can talk about the song's lyrics (lyrics):

I love this song! The lyrics are so
romantic!
Ugh. Those lyrics are really offensive.

I love this song! The lyrics are so romantic!

Ugh. Those lyrics are really offensive.

And you can talk about the feeling (feeling), or mood (mood), of a song:
It makes me feel relaxed.
I like how the mood changes. First, it's
edgy, then it's romantic.

It makes me feel relaxed.

I like how the mood changes. First, it's edgy,
then it's romantic.

Use not much of a to say something is inadequate. Use kind of to say 'slightly.' Remember, a
kind of means 'a type of.'
There isn't much of a beat.
The melody is kind of sentimental.

There isn't much of a beat.

The melody is kind of sentimental.

Reading a song review

When you read someone's review of a song, you may find the following ideas:
The writer will state the name of the song, and the singer or the group.
I just heard the new song, 'Sent Sentimentally,' by The Rough Stones.
The writer may describe the melody, rhythm, lyrics or singer's voice.
The song has a rough, wild sound with a tune that is totally catchy. The singer, Mike Groan, hits
some really low notes. They make the song thrilling and edgy. Be careful: Some of the lyrics are
kind of offensive.
The writer might talk about how the song made him or her feel.

There's not much of a change in mood. It's all rough and edgy. But that's why I like it. It had a
wild and exciting feeling.
The writer usually says whether he or she likes or would recommend the song.
What a great new song by The Rough Stones! Buy it now!

I just heard a song by Chanti Smith called 'Walking on Clouds.' What a beautiful
song! First, Chanti sings quiet, low notes. Then the melody changes, and she sings
the high notes a little louder. She has a great range and lightly hits the high notes.
You can't really dance to 'Walking on Clouds' because there isn't much of a beat. But
the song has a relaxing mood with romantic lyrics. It made me think about how my
boyfriend Logan and I first met. Anyway, you should listen to it. I really enjoyed it.

Vocabulary

Language hint

admit (accept truth) UK /dmt/ US /dmt/

verb (-tt-)(admitting, admitted)

1.

[ I or T ] to agree, often unwillingly, that sth is true

It was a stupid thing to do, I admit.

'I'm very nervous,' she admitted reluctantly.

Don't be afraid to admit to your mistakes.

She admits to being strict with her children.

He admitted all his mistakes.

She stubbornly refuses to admit the truth.

Why don't you just admit defeat(= recognize that you cannot do sth) and let someone else
try?

Admit it! You were terrified!

They freely admit (that) they still have a lot to learn.

You must admit that it all sounds very strange.

I couldn't admit to my parents that I was finding the course difficult.

It was generally admitted that the government had acted too quickly