LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

11.11 Modals to express habit: 'used to', 'will' and 'would'

11.11C

Study:

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'Would' in place of 'used to' and in place of the simple past [> LEG 11.61]

When we are 'remembering the past', we sometimes use would in place ot used to.

First we set the scene with used to, then we continue with would:

When I was a boy we always spent/used to spend our holidays on a farm. We would get up

at 5 and we'd help milk the cows. Then we'd return to the kitchen for breakfast.

Write:

11.11D

Study:

\Ш

Underline instances where we could use would in place ot the simple past or used to.

From the time he was very young, Gerald used to spend all his spare time collecting birds, animals

and insects of all kinds. Every morning he used to get up early and go first to the beach. There he

caught small crabs and sometimes small fishes, which he put into a large jar and took home with him.

On the way, he always used to go to an ruined fisherman's cottage where he was often lucky enough

to find some unusual insect that he had never seen before.

'Will/would' to describe 'usual behaviour' [> LEG 11.63-64]

We sometimes use will in place of the simple present [> 9.1 B] and would in place of the simple

past [> 9.3C] to refer to a person's 'usual behaviour':

In fine weather he will often sit in the sun for hours. (= he often sits)

As he grew old, he would often talk about his war experiences. (= he often talked)

Write: Use a phrase with will or would in place of the words in italics.

1 She always used to tell us a story before we went to bed. ...Р^ШЧф^. ¿¿¿L.

2 She still tells us a story occasionally

3 They only used to discuss family matters with the priest

4 He's very good, you know. He plays with that toy for hours on end

5 When he needed extra money, he used to work overtime

6 She doesn't always tell the truth, I'm afraid

11.11E Context

Write: Put in appropriate forms of the past, used to, will or would. Alternatives are possible.

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE!

The thing I remember most about my childhood was my visits to my aunt Charlotte

in her lovely country house. She (be)^1 4Ш4. a remarkable woman by any

standards. She (be)^2 really skilled at water-divining and she (find)

(^3) water on the most unpromising bits of land. The farmers (love)
(^4) her, especially as she (never accept) (^5) money for
water-divining. 'Water (always find)^6 its own level,' she (say)
(^7) 'and I know exactly where that level is. Water-divining is a gift from
God and you don't accept payment for that.' She had a gift for noticing changes in
the weather, too. 'It's going to rain soon,' she (say)^8 'I can feel it in
my bones,' and she (always be)^9 right! In her later years, she
developed a bad back and (often visit)^10 her osteopath. She (never
tire)^11 of telling us that her osteopath (say)^12 as he
massaged her painful back, 'It's going to rain, Charlotte. I can feel it in your bones!'

ПЛДЛ7Г

I can feel it in your bones!