Life’s Transitions

📖 Elias’s Big Change 

Elias used to live in a quiet cabin in the Swiss Alps. Life was silent and slow there. Every morning, he would hike to the edge of the glacial lake and skip stones across the water. He used to be a solitary man, but he enjoyed the peace of the mountains. 

Last year, he moved to Tokyo. At first, the neon lights and the crowds were overwhelming. However, after six months, his perspective shifted. He is used to navigating the crowded subway at rush hour now. The noise doesn't bother him anymore because he is used to the city sounds. Sometimes, he thinks about his old life, but he doesn't miss the mountain winter; he is used to the heat of the city summer. 

📖 Sarah’s Career Shift 

Sarah used to be a corporate lawyer in a high-rise office. Back then, her life was dictated by the clock. Every Monday, she would grab a black coffee and sprint to the courtroom. She used to have very little free time, and she felt constantly stressed. 

Two years ago, she quit to become a freelance photographer. The transition was hard, but she adapted. Now, she is used to working from unpredictable locations like beaches or forests. She is used to the silence of her home studio. While she sometimes misses her old colleagues, she is used to the freedom of being her own boss. 

📝 Fill in the Blanks 

Choose the correct form: Used to, Would, or Be used to. 

1. Sarah __________ be a lawyer, but now she is a photographer. 

2. In her old job, she __________ check her emails at 5:00 AM every single day. 

3. She __________ having a busy schedule, so she doesn't mind the long hours. 

4. She __________ the silence of her studio now, though it was weird at first. 

5. In the past, she __________ wear a formal suit to work every morning.

Complete this exercise to see how well you can apply the rules to a new scenario: Ben’s move from a big family house to a tiny apartment. 

📝 Fill in the Blanks 

Choose between: Used to, Would, or Be used to (remembering to change the verb form if needed). 

1. Ben __________ live in a house with five siblings, but now he lives alone. (Past state) 

2. Every Sunday morning, his mother __________ make pancakes for the whole family. (Past routine) 

3. At first, the silence of the apartment felt strange, but now he __________ the quiet. (Familiarity with a noun) 

4. He __________ sleep in a bunk bed, but now he has a king-sized bed. (Past habit/state) 

5. Ben __________ living in a small space now, so he doesn't feel cramped anymore. (Current comfort with an action) 

4. 🎤 INTEVIEW Asking About the Past 

When we want to learn about someone's previous life or confirm a change, we use specific question structures. 

Past Habits and States

▶ To ask about a habitual action or state in the past, use Did ... use to ... ? 

Did Elias use to live in a cabin in the Alps? 

Did Sarah use to have very little free time? 

▶ Use the negative question Didn't ... use to ... ? to confirm a guess about a past situation. 

Didn't Elias use to be a solitary man? 

Didn't Sarah use to work as a corporate lawyer? 

 
Note: In questions, the "d" is removed from "used" because "did" already shows the past tense.