I am used to + verb + ing ( Gerund.) / Get used to/ I used to + verb ...what are the differences?

I am used to + verb + ing ( Gerund.) / Get used to/ I used to + verb ...what are the differences?

The ''aspect of a verb'' is determined by whether the action is ongoing or completed/finished - today we are going to take a look at three aspects :

Let's dig deeper - get your digging tools ready, get your shoes off and feet in the proverbial sand!

Used to (+ would. ) shows that a particular thing always happened or was true in the past/ a repeated action in the past :

The habitual past is indicated(shown...) most often by the semi-auxiliary verb ''used to'' , the auxiliary would, or the simple past tense of a verb. These denote past states, with verbs such as ‘be’, ‘have’ and ‘live’.

Examples:

I used to have a picnic in the park every weekend - we would eat and drink and be merry!

We often went to the beach, where we used to build sandcastles.

I used to enjoy swimming in the ocean - I would swim for hours!

The present form of the habitual aspect : Be used to + A Gerund ( Verb +  ing, )

is used to say that something is par for the course. ( Normal/familiar/a habit.) , not unusual. It means you do this often - let's say - you do this regularly. 

Form: be verb + used to + verb + ing :

Examples:

Affirmative:I am used to waking up at six o'clock.

Negative: I am (not) used to waking up at six o'clock.

Question:Are you used to waking up at six o'clock?

I am used to doing the dishes every evening.( This is my routine.)

The future form of the habitual aspect : 

Get used to + ing or a Noun , shows that something is in the process of becoming normal. You have not done it often - you are trying to form a habit of doing it.

Form: get used to + ing:

Examples:

Affirmative:I am trying to/need to get used to riding my scooter.

Negative:I am not getting/I do not think I will/can not/will not + get used to waking up at six o'clock.

Question: Are you getting used to riding your scooter?

I have to get used to all of this new technology, I have not yet gotten the hang of it. ( get the hang of = Get used to/become accustomed to.)

Conversation/ writing practice:

How have you changed, compared to when you were a teenager/young adult?

( Think of your personality /likes and dislikes/ responsibilities.)

___________________________________

Is there any food you used to hate but you like now?

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What activities did you use to do that you’ve stopped doing now?

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What are you used to doing everyday?

___________________________________

Are you used to waking up early? Do you think we should all get used to waking up early? Why/Why not?

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What are some things we need to get used to doing as an adult?

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Making a choice : Would rather / would prefer

Sometimes, we need to make a choice between two things because we can not have both or because we like one thing more than another! 

Do you know how to make a choice in English/ tell people what you like more than another thing?

If not, do not worry - I am here to help you today...

Let's go !

We use ''would rather'' and ''would prefer to'' when we have two or more options of something to do or to have/eat !

The forms are rather easy ! Take a look:

I + would rather + Verb phrase + than + Verb phrase.

I + would prefer  to + Verb phrase + rather than + Verb phrase.

Examples:

Would you rather eat an apple or a pear?

I would rather + Verb phrase: eat an apple + than + Verb phrase: eat a pear.

I would prefer to + Verb phrase: eat an apple + rather than + Verb phrase: eat a pear.

Would you rather go running or swimming?

I would rather go swimming than go running!

Would you prefer to go running or swimming?

I would prefer to go running rather than go swimming. 

Would you rather stay at home or go out tonight?

I would rather stay home than go out tonight!

Would you prefer to stay at home or go out tonight?

I would prefer to stay at home rather than go out tonight!

Pronunciation tip: ''I would'' in speech, is contracted to ''I'd''. 

Examples:

I'd rather eat breakfast at home than at a restaurant. /I'd prefer to eat breakfast at home rather than at a restaurant.

Now, read the above examples aloud - using the contracted form ''I'd''.

Let's practice !

Try to answer the following ''Would you rather'' questions using both forms: 

I + would rather + Verb phrase + than + Verb phrase. 

I + would prefer  to + Verb phrase + rather than + Verb phrase.

Would you rather live in your own country or move to another country?

Would you rather live your entire life in a virtual reality where all your wishes are granted or in the real world?

Would you rather drink tea or coffee for the rest of your life? Would you rather be alone for the rest of your life or always be surrounded by annoying people?
Would you rather never use social media sites / apps again or never watch another movie or TV show?
Would you rather be fluent in all languages and never be able to travel or be able to travel anywhere for a year but never be able to learn a word of a different language?
Would you rather have an unlimited international first class ticket or never have to pay for food at restaurants?

Confusing words : Sometime and sometimes - explained !

Hello dear students,

I feel so grateful today ! Want to know why? Well, today I had the opportunity to teach a lesson about the differences between two confusing words – sometime and sometimes! 

Do you know the differences? The lovely student I taught this morning now knows the differences.

If you do not yet, fear not ! (  Do not worry.) Keep reading below...

Have a wonderful week ahead and be good to each other !

Biggest hugs from afar,

Your teacher, Bernadette.

Sometime: An Adverb meaning at any time in the future or past/ undecided/ An indefinite point in time. ( Synonyms: sooner or later, one day.)

Examples:

I might visit sometime. I am not sure when.

I may go skateboarding sometime, not sure when yet !

Collocations: Sometime + tomorrow, last week, next year, tomorrow, today.

Examples:

Question: When will you visit me?

Answer: I will pop by sometime tomorrow.

Question: When are you going to finish the book?

Answer: I don't know, perhaps sometime this week.


Practice :

What is something new you would like to try sometime in the future ?

Can you make 4 sentences using ''sometime''? Try it !

Sometimes: An Adverb of frequency meaning every now and then / not always. ( Synonyms: Occasionally, infrequently, not very often.) 

Examples:

I sometimes eat meat - not always.

I sometimes visit my friend who lives in another city.

I sometimes have to wake up early for lessons.

Word order : Sometimes can be placed at the start, in the middle or at the end of a sentence:

Sometimes she is late.

She is sometimes late.

She is late sometimes.

Practice:

What do you sometimes do on the weekend? 
Do you sometimes wake up later than usual? At what time?
Do you think that we should sometimes donate to charities? Why/Why not?

Phrasal verbs

I can hear you asking me : Why should I learn Phrasal verbs? 

Well, a word of advice : They are essential to understanding everyday/ naturally spoken English/films. Native speakers use phrasal verbs regularly and so, it will benefit you to understand them a dash better.





Tip: Try to learn at least 5 per week and then with that, 5 synonyms/ full verbs and their collocations. ( E.g : Get into + art,music, series = To start enjoying something.Come across + an old friend, a lost item, a book, a new word = find by accident.)

Nota bene: Full verbs are best used in writing/ formal conversation.


A phrasal verb by definition, is a two or three word verb: (a verb + a preposition or verb + adverb.) We can modify the use of a verb for more meaning/ to change the meaning of the verb by adding a particle/creating a phrasal verb. ( Examples of the particle : Up, On, In, At.Over.) 


Phrasal verbs can be transitive or intransitive.

NOTES:

Intransitive phrasal verbs have no direct object.(A direct object is “acted upon” by the verb).

Transitive phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable.Transitive phrasal verbs have a direct object.



NB: Always place a pronoun between the verb and particle if you find it is seperable! ''Turn it on.'', NOT: ''Turn on it.''.


Let's look at some Phrasal verbs and then answer some questions as we go along ! 


Understanding the particle in English will help you understand Phrasal verbs even better: 


To pick up/ Pick + someone + up = Move in a car with someone -( To transport.)
Example: I will pick you up at 5p.m


Has a friend ever picked you up? Where did you go? Have you ever picked someone up before?




Pull up = To approach/To move closer to someone / somewhere. 
Example: I pulled up a seat to sit closer to the board.

Have you ever pulled up a chair for someone? When do you think we should? Do you think it is polite if a man pulls up a chair for a woman?




Move up = Movement /To literally stand and move towards the left or right. 
Example: Please move up, so more people can sit on the couch. 

Have you ever moved up for someone to sit next to you on a bench? 

Have you ever asked someone to move up because they were taking too much space? What happened? Were they polite?



Brighten up = To increase/improve or To provide more light into a dark space/ To become more cheerful/ happier.
Examples: The colourful flowers really brighten up the office! Brighten up, do not be sad - things will get better !

What do you do to brighten up when having a bad day? How can we brighten up someone's day?
Have you ever refurbished your home ? How did you brighten it up? ( Decorate/improve it.)


 

Clean up = To improve how a place/person looks.
Examples: You have really cleaned up the office, it looks much better! I think Sara cleans up well - she looks great in formal clothing !

Note: Clean up is a phrasal verb which means: to make (a room or space) clean and orderly. ... Clean out is a phrasal verb which means something such as a cupboard, room, or container, you take everything out of it and clean the inside of it thoroughly. Clean = can mean one item or many / used more frequently than ''clean up.''.

Do you have a regular schedule for cleaning up your home? Why? Does anyone help you clean up? Do you enjoy cleaning up?





Your turn ! Can you make two sentences with each of the above Phrasal verbs ?

These two examples show you things that help you remember phrasal verbs, according to http://www.phrasalverbdemon.com/:

Keep down:
Try to remember... Logic of the particle: Down sometimes means reducing. 

Example: Please keep your voice down, the neighbors are complaining. 

A Couple of collocations: you can keep down your voice, the noise, your weight,bad food.

Grammar: you can separate it. You can say ,‘’keep your voice down’’ and ‘’keep it down ‘’.


Come across:
Try to remember... Logic of the particle: Across sometimes means finding. 

Example: I came across an old school friend of mine when I was travelling in Zimbabwe. 

A Couple of collocations: you can come across a friend, an old photograph, a new place.

Grammar: you can't separate it. You can say come across an old friend but you can't say come an old friend across or come him across.