We
(1) in Boston before we moved to New York. As we lived quite near my aunt, we
(2) her occasionally, and every time she
(3) something really good for us to eat. She
(4) a real
flair for cooking in those days, before her illness. Once she
(5) us a huge pot of
clam chowder. It
(6) the first time I'd ever had it, and I've been hooked on it ever since. From that time on, every Friday we
(7) to the market to buy some clams and some Oyster crackers to go with the soup. Crown Pilot crackers
(8) our favorite, but unfortunately the company that made them
(9) bust in 2008. In those days we
(10) clam chowder New England style - we
(11) clams, onions and potatoes in it, and nothing much else. Now we live in New York, we've got used to Manhattan clam chowder with tomatoes, but when we lived in Boston we
(12) at the idea of putting tomatoes in chowder.
Random Idea English
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Using used to and would in reported speech.We don't use any backshifting with used to and would in reported speech; they stay the same:
- Patricia: "I used to think he was rather nice."
Patricia said that she used to think he was rather nice.
- Matthew: "She would often write to me."
Matthew said that she would often write to him.
Using used to and would with narrative tenses.These expressions are often used together with narrative tenses. Narrative tenses - a quick reminder
- Past simple
- Describes the main events of the story
- Describes sequences of events
- Is the 'standard' narrative tense. If in doubt, go for past simple.
- Past continuous
- Is often used to set the scene and for describing background actions
- Describes unfinished actions, especially around a certain time
- Describes longer actions interrupted by shorter ones
- Is sometimes used to make the actions in a story seem more immediate, especially with the word now
- Past perfect
- Describes events which took place before the main events in the story
- Past perfect continuous
- Describes longer continuous actions which took place before the main events in the story
- Is sometimes used to explain the condition of people or things at the time of the main events in the story.
Grammatical PS - technically, the verb used to is a semi-modalAlthough nowadays we almost always use used to the same way as any other verb in past simple, that's to say, with did in negatives and questions, a modal form also exists, which you might come across when reading:
- Negative - He used not to smoke (also use(d)n't)
= He didn't use to smoke (more usual)
- Question - Used your parents allow you to stay out late?
= Did your parents use to allow you to stay out late? (more usual)
These forms are pretty rare these days and are seen as rather formal, but here are a couple of examples from Agatha Christie: You usen't to be like that The Mistress usedn't to sleep well at night.
Poirot loses a client And one from Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond books: He used not to sweat like that. Other semi-modalsOther semi-modals, where we can use normal constructions or modal constructions, include need and dare (in negatives in British English). Normal constructions are more common.
- She doesn't need to do it if she doesn't want to. (normal construction)
She needn't do it if she doesn't want to. (modal construction)
- Do we really need to go now? (normal construction)
Need we really go now? (modal construction))
- He doesn't dare tell her the truth. (normal construction)
He daren't tell her the truth. (modal construction)
Some song extractsChris Daughtry - Used toUsed to + infinitive and would We used to have this figured out;
We used to breathe without a doubt.
When nights were clear, you were the first star that I'd see.
We used to have this under control.
We never thought.
We used to know.
At least there's you, and at least there's me.
Can we get this back?
Can we get this back to how it used to be? Madonna - This used to be my playgroundUsed to + infinitive This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling StoneUsed to + infinitive and get used to something You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it Depeche Mode - A Pain That I'm Used ToBe used to something All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true Selena - I'm getting used to youGet used to somebody or doing something I'm getting used to you
Ooh and I'm loving every single thing about you
I'm getting used to you
And I could never get used to living without you
Ain't no living without loving you Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher ManUsing would to talk about people's habitual actions Billy-Ray was a preacher's son
And when his daddy would visit he'd come along
When they gathered round and started talkin'
That's when Billy would take me walkin'
A-through the backyard we'd go walkin'
Then he'd look into my eyes
Lord knows to my surprise Johnny Cash - A girl named SueUsing would to talk about what often happened, what typically happened. Well, he must've thought that it's quite a joke
And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folks,
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
Some gal'd giggle and I'd get red
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head,
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named 'Sue.' Coldplay - Viva la vidaBoth used to + infinitive and would I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
NotesNote 1 - Samuel Pepys DiarySamuel Pepys (1633 – 1703) was a civil servant working at the Admiralty office (the government department converned with naval affairs). From 1660 until 1669 he kept a diar, whichb has become one of the most famopus diaries in the English language. In it he not only wrote about his private life, but about the great affairs of politics and it is one of the most important accounts of some of the great events of the time, inclusing the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. Note 2 - Milton and Moustachio'sThis use of the apostrophe in the expression of Milton's - large Moustachio's - is typical of an early use of apostrophes: to show that a foreign word was being used in the plural. As the singular forms of some foreign words ended in s, this was not always clear. This use of the apostrophe was especially used in connection with foreign foods, and so became known as the Greengocer's apostrophe. Nowadays it is widely used in markets for all sorts of foods, with foreign names or not, much to the annoyance of the apostrophe abuse hunters (people who seem to get enjoyment from finding other people's mistakes). This use is not technically correct, and you definitely shouldn't do it, but it is hardly the serious crime some people like to think it is.
Related postsLinksSongs - Google searches - lyrics, YouTube etcOxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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