Use of “used to” for Habitual Past

&
Use of “since” and “for”

Name : Yusuf Ardiansyah

NRP : 7110040004

Class : 1 D4 Elektronika A

Use of “used to” for Habitual Past

Historical Aspect

Used to and would appeared in the English at different points in time and from different
language sources:

The verb is said to be an adaptation of the Old French verb user meaning, "to follow a
usage or custom", which became a regular feature of the English language some time
around 1400.

Contemporary English Forms of the Habitual Past

Employed in the sense "to be in the habit of" or " a habit or state that existed in the past".
This form is claimed to be one of the most common habitual constructions and used in
preference to the preterite. Having no present tense form in present-day English its use is
confined to the past tense. It is maintained that, whilst there has been little apparent change
in its meaning since its adoption into the English language, its usage has been extended.
That is to say: from employment with solely human subjects to subjects of all kinds; and
from describing a purely habitual action to employment with stative verbs.

Learners (and even some native speakers) get confused about the term 'used to'. They often
get confused about when 'used' is appropriate and when 'use' is appropriate.

The expression 'used to' is appropriate when we are making a positive statement about
events in the past. We often use it to refer to repeated actions that happened in the
past.

* I used to play for Manchester City (but I don't now).

* When I lived in Brazil, I used to go diving every weekend (but I don't now).

* She used to work really hard but she doesn't now.

We also use it to refer to states in the past.

* There used to be some wonderful old houses over by the river (but there aren't now).
 * I used to be a professor but now I'm retired.

On occasions, it can be used for negative statements but this tends to be more formal
and so is less frequent.

* I used not to like eating spinach (but I do now.)

* She's friendly now but we used not to like each other. (We do like each other now.)

In theory, the contracted form is possible but rare these days.

To express this we can use either used to or would.

* When I was young I used to play with my robot. = When I was young I would play
with my robot.

Of course I no longer play with robot!

If you want to talk about repeated states or habits in the past, you must use used to,
you cannot use would .

* I used to smoke.

* I used to be an administrative assistant.

* I used to live in England.

You should use 'use to' without a d in sentences when it follows 'did' or 'didn't' (don't worry
too much about this because lots of people get it wrong).

The question form is ‘Did you use to…?'. When asking a closed question you put
did/didn't in front of the subject followed by use to, you cannot use would.

* Did they use to own the company?

 * Didn't we use to go to the same school?

Also when asking questions about states in the past you cannot use would.

* What sort of things did you use to like when you were young?

In the negative you cannot use would without a change in meaning.

* I didn't use to play with my robot.

If I said I wouldn't play with my robot. It would mean I refused to play with my robot.

Note :

The general rule is when there is did or didn't in the sentence, we say use to (without
d) when there is no did or didn't in the sentence, we say used to (with d).

Use of “since” and “for”

The use of FOR

We use For when we measure the duration – when we say how long something lasts.

For + a period of time

To measure a period of time up to the present, we use the present perfect tense and not the
present tense.

• I have known her for a long time. (Correct)

• I know her for a long time. (Incorrect)
• I have lived here for ten years. (Correct)
• I live here for ten years. (Correct)

The present tense with For refers to a period of time that extends into the future.

• How long are you here for? (Until when)

• How long have you been here for? (Since when)

In reality, we can use all verb tenses with For.

Uses of For
Example sentence Verb Tense
They exercise for two hours every day. Present tense
They are exercising for three hours today. Present continuous
He has lived in Moscow for a long time. Present perfect
He has been living in Turin for three months. Present perfect continuous
I worked at the service station for five years. Past tense
He will be in hospital for at least a week. Future tense

However, we don't use For with expressions such as all day or all the time.

• I was there all day. (Correct)

• I was there for all day. (Incorrect)

The use of SINCE

Since gives the starting point of actions, events or states. It refers to when things began.

Since + a point in time (in the past), until now.

 • I've been waiting since 7 o'clock.
• I have known him since January.

With since we use the present perfect tense or the past perfect tense.

• I have been here since 5 o'clock and I am getting tired.

• I had been working since 5 o'clock and I was getting tired.

Since can also be used in the structure It has been + period of time + since.

• It has been two months since I last saw her.

• It has been three years since the last earthquake.

For vs. Since

Knowing when to use FOR and when to use SINCE is important. Therefore it is useful to
look at a summary of the contrast between FOR and SINCE.

FOR to mention a specific period (or
duration) of time.
I have been a doctor for fifteen years.
(duration = 15 years)
She has been a mother for six months.
My sister has lived in Frankfurt for nine
months.
SINCE to mention the starting point of a
period of time (continues to now).
I have been a doctor since 1992. (starting point =
1992)
She has been pregnant since her first child was
born.
My sister has lived in Frankfurt since the
beginning of March.

Dialog

Aris : hello man, how are you now ?

Lukman : yes, I'm good.
Aris : Where you live now ?
Lukman : I stayed at my uncle's house since 2 weeks ago.
Aris : And where to you ?
Lukman : while I stayed at grandpa's house for 1 week ahead.
Aris : where you Came from?
Lukman : im from Nganjuk. and you?
Aris : im from Surabaya.
Lukman : where formerly you live ?
Aris : I used to live in Bandung.
Lukman : How long are you here for ?
Aris : about 12 years. And you ?
Lukman : i live 17 years in there. what special food Surabaya.
Aris : Surabaya is a special food is Rujak & Lontong Balap.
Lukman : What about rainfall in surabaya.
Aris : overcast, and there ?
Lukman : the same, since when you come to Surabaya.?
Aris : since I 5 years old..
Lukman : are you like robots ?
Aris : yes of course.
Lukman : 2 months ago but I Did not Used to play with my robot.
Aris : what do you think about EEPIS.
Lukman : EEPIS is cool. I did not think could be received here, and you ?
Aris : I think a EEPIS is the best, for future generations.
Lukman : Well that's all, to see again.
Aris : okay no problem.

Example Problems

Put the verb in the correct tense and complete where necessary with SINCE or FOR.

1. I (type).............. seven this morning.

2. I (be) off work.......... almost a week.

3. How long you (wait)?

4. How long you (be) off work?

5. How long you (type)?

6. He (live) in that hotel........... the beginning of August.

7. She (study) English............ five years.

Put the verb in the correct tense and complete where necessary with Use of
“used to” for Habitual Past.

8. I will never get used to ……… nights. I much prefer working days.

a. work b. working

9. When I worked in the city, I used to ……. really early to commute to work.

a. get up b. getting up

10. Are you getting used to ……. in your new house yet?

a. live b. living

11. Since I retired from my job, I can’t get used to ……… nothing to do all day.

a. having b. have

12. In my last job I used to …… a suit and tie. Now I wear jeans.

a. wear b. wearing

13. I was just getting used to ……… glasses when I changed to contact lenses.

a. wear b. wearing

14. When I was a student, I used to …… in a bar.

a. work b. working

15. She isn't used to ……. on her own. The house feels quite empty. (LIVE)

a. live b. living

Key Answer

1. I have been typing since seven this morning.

2. I have been off work for almost a week.

3. How long have you been waiting?

4. How long have you been off work?

5. How long have you been typing?

6. He has been living in that hotel since the beginning of August.

7. She has been studying English for five years.

8. B
9. A
10. B
11. A
12. A
13. B
14. A
15. B