Used to Do Vs. Used to Doing (Gerund Vs. Inf.)

Little Things

Used to do vs. used to doing (Gerund vs. Inf.)

If someone keeps doing something, you use the form: to be used to + gerund:  He is used to smoking. (Er ist ans Rauchen gewöhnt. = Er raucht immer noch.)  I am used to waking up early in the morning. It doesn’t bother me. If someone has stopped doing something, but did it in the past, you use the form: used to + infinitive:  He used to smoke. (Er war ans Rauchen gewöhnt. = Er hat mit dem Rauchen aufgehört.)  We used to live there when I was a child.  I used to hate vegetables, but now I love them. Tag phrases/questions, esp. with unusual expressions: we had better..., hadn’t we

A tag question is a short question added to the end of a positive or negative statement.  You are a good singer, aren’t you?

Had better: to refer to the present or the future, to talk about actions we think people should do or which are desirable in a specific situation.

The verb form is always had, not have. We normally shorten it to ’d better in informal situations. It is followed by the infinitive without to:  It’s five o’clock. I’d better go now before the traffic gets too bad. Not: I’d better to go now.

Had better is a strong expression. We use it if we think there will be negative results if someone does not do what is desired or suggested:  She’d better get here soon or she’ll miss the opening ceremony.

The negative of had better is had better not (or ’d better not):  I’d better not leave my bag there. Someone might steal it.  You’d better not tell Elizabeth about the broken glass – she’ll go crazy!

(a) little, (a) few, much, many,  used preferably in a NEGATIVE statement or a QUESTION a lot (of), lots (of)  used in POSTITIVE statements plenty (of), so vs. such, hardly

(a) little: for uncountable nouns (milk, money, time, water etc.)  He has a little money left / He has only little money left

(a) few: countable nouns (glasses of milk, dollars, hours, bottles of water etc.)  He has a few dollars left. There were quite a few people there / There were only few people there much: uncountable nouns singular (- / ?)  How much money do you have? – I don't have much left many: countable nouns plural (- / ?)  How many dollars do you have? – I don't have many left a lot (of) and lots (of): they both mean a large amount or number of people or things. They are both used before countable nouns and uncountable nouns: with countable nouns:  A lot of people went to the game.  Lots of people went to the game. with uncountable nouns:  A lot of snow falls in winter.  Lots of snow falls in winter. a lot: means very often or very much. It is used as an adverb. It often comes at the end of a sentence and never before a noun.  I like basketball a lot.  She's a lot happier now than she was.  I don't go there a lot anymore. plenty (of): plenty means sth. is ‘(more than) enough’ plenty of is used countable and uncountable nouns and means a lot / more than enough  Is that enough? -That’s plenty. Thanks.  Plenty of people dropped out of school early and have still been very successful in their careers.

Such: is a determiner (--->noun); so is an adverb. They have the same meaning of ‘very’ or ‘to this degree’:  Those are such good chocolates.  Those chocolates are so good.

We use such + noun phrase and so + adjective or adverb phrase:  She is such a great cook. Not: She is so great cook.

So: expresses consequences, purposes, additions, degrees, agreements, can be used in front of much, many, little, few to add emphasis (=Betonung):  It was raining, so we stayed at home.  So you understand me, I will be as clear as possible.  I once lived in Bombay, so did my boss.  This ice-cream is so good.  "Do we have enough money?" - "I think so"  So much food was wasted every day.

Hardly has a negative meaning. It normally means ‘almost not at all’ or ‘only just’. We can use it in mid position, or before an adjective or a noun:  He wore a big hat that covered his head and you could hardly see his face. (you could only see a small part of his face)  this vs. these, that vs. those, the

We use this (singular) and these (plural):

To talk about people or things near us / things that we want to make interesting:  This is a nice cup of tea.  Whose shoes are these?  You know, there’s this new game on the market, ...

To introduce people:  This is Janet.  These are my friends, John and Michael. We don’t say These are John and Michael. We say This is John and this is Michael.

To introduce ourselves at the beginning in a conversation on the phone:  Hello, this is David, Can I speak to Sally? To suggest that people or things are near us:  We have lived in this house for twenty years.  Have you read all of these books?

We use that (singular) and those (plural):

To talk about things that are not near us, or that we reject:  What’s that?  This is our house, and that’s Rebecca’s house over there.  Those are very expensive shoes.  All that (negative!) hype about this new gadget…

We also use that to refer back to something someone said or did:  Shall we go to the cinema?  Yes, that’s a good idea.  I’ve got a new job. – That’s great!  I’m very tired. – Why is that?

To suggest that people or things that are not near us:  Who lives in that house?  Who are those people

We use the:

With a specific noun (it is clear from context WHICH one me mean):  The teacher (a specific teacher, everybody know which one)

When the speaker and listener have already discussed this noun (or they have shared knowledge):  I bought the bike today!” (Speaker and listener previously discussed that bike)

Prepositions: on, at, in, for, to

On Used to express a surface of something (horizontal or vertical!):  I put an egg on the kitchen table.  The paper is on my desk.  There are hundreds of flies on the ceiling / on the wall / on the floor.

Used to specify days and dates:  The garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.  I was born on the 14(th) of June in 1988. ---: SAY these words, DON’T write them.

Used to indicate a device or machine, such as a phone or computer:  He is on the phone right now.  She has been on the computer since this morning.  My favorite movie will be on TV tonight.

Used to indicate a part of the body:  The stick hit me on my shoulder.  He kissed me on my cheek.  I wear a ring on my finger.

Used to indicate the state of something:  Everything in this store is on sale.  The building is on fire. / “This girl is on fire” (song lyrics)

At Used to point out specific time:  I will meet you at 12 p.m.  The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.

Used to indicate a place:  There is a party at the club house.  There were hundreds of people at the park.  We saw a baseball game at the stadium.

Used to indicate an email address:  Please email me at [email protected].

Used to indicate an activity:  He laughed at my acting.  I am good at drawing a portrait.

In Used for unspecific times during a day, month, season, year:  She always reads newspapers in the morning.  In (the) summer, we have a rainy season for three weeks.  The new semester will start in March.

Used to indicate a location or place:  She looked me directly in the eyes.  I am currently staying in a hotel.  My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.

Used to indicate a shape, color, or size:  This painting is mostly in blue.  The students stood in a circle.  This jacket comes in four different sizes.

Used to express while doing something:  In preparing for the final report, we revised the tone [aggressive / consiliatory…] three times.  A catch phrase needs to be impressive in marketing a product.

Used to indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or feeling:  I believe in the next life.  We are not interested in gambling.

To Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward, or the direction of something:  I am heading to the entrance of the building.  The package was mailed to Mr. Kim yesterday.  All of us went to the movie theater.  Please send it back to me.

Used to indicate a limit or an ending point:  The snow was piled up to the roof.  The stock prices rose up to 100 dollars.

Used to indicate relationship:  This letter is very important to your admission.  My answer to your question is in this envelop.  Do not respond to every little thing in your life.

Used to indicate a time or a period:  I work nine to six, Monday to Friday.  It is now 10 to five. (In other words, it is 4:50.)

Used as a preposition in some expressions:  I am looking forward to seeing you.  I am used to cooking every day.

For Used to indicate the use of something:  This place is for exhibitions and shows.  I baked a cake for your birthday.  I put a note on the door for privacy.  She has been studying hard for the final exam.

Used to mean because of:  I am so happy for you.  We feel deeply sorry for your loss.  For this reason, I’ve decided to quit this job.

Used to indicate time or duration:  He’s been famous for many decades.  I attended the university for one year only.  This is all I have for today.