We use this expression to talk about habits or repeated actions in the past which we don't do in the present.
For instance: "I used to pass all these grammar tests with ease!"
Correct Answers
The time adverbial last Saturday tells us that this a single event in the past. Used to is used to describe an ongoing action or state in the past, so you must use the past simple here: He went to.
The present simple verb form are indicates we need to use the present continuous form of the main verb get: They are getting. In the affirmative form we must use used to, not use to.
The interrogative form of used to is use to followed by an infinitive: Didn't she use to play?
Although it seems as if we need to use the negative form use to, the second clause is actually an affirmative sentence: I used to be.... We can only use would for an action in the past, not a state in the past.
The first two options cannot be followed by get up. As we already have the main verb be, only the gerund getting up would work here. From the last two options, note that we must use use to in the negative form, not used to.
As we are implying an event in the future (need time to), the special construction required here is get used to. In the affirmative form, we must use get used to, not get use to.
In the affirmative form, we use used to to describe an ongoing action or state in the past. We cannot follow the word to with playing. We need to use the infinitive form after used to: I used to play tennis.
For an action in the past, we need to use would followed by an infinitive (go). We cannot use use to in the affirmative form.
The negative form of used to is use to followed by an infinitive: I didn't use to smoke.
We can only use would for an action in the past, not a state in the past. As this is an affirmative statement, we need to use used to followed by an infinitive: I used to be...
Be
Be vs have vs do: all three serve as auxiliaries, but be builds progressives (is running) and passives (was broken); have builds perfects (has gone); do builds negatives and questions (do you, doesn't, did). Only be also works as a main verb (copula: She is a doctor).
The verb be = 8 forms, most irregular English verb. Copula (links subject to complement) + auxiliary for progressive/passive.
Diagnostic: is be followed by an -ing form? → progressive auxiliary. Past participle? → passive auxiliary. Adjective/noun/prepositional phrase? → copula (main verb).
Modal verb
Must vs should vs might: the most confused modal trio. Must = strong obligation/near-certainty. Should = advice/expectation. Might = possibility. Getting these wrong changes the force of your statement: You must see a doctor (urgent) vs You should see a doctor (advice) vs You might need a doctor (maybe).
Modal verbs are auxiliaries that encode modality: ability (can), permission (may), necessity (must), advice (should), possibility (might), future (will).
Diagnostic: what meaning are you adding? Obligation → must/have to. Advice → should. Possibility → might/could. Ability → can. Future → will.
Auxiliary verb
Auxiliary vs main verb: a main verb carries the action (run, eat, think); an auxiliary verb carries the grammar — tense, negation, questions, aspect, voice. In She has been eating, eating is the main verb; has and been are auxiliaries.
The English auxiliaries are be, have, do (primary) and the modal verbs (can, will, must…). They always precede the main verb.
Diagnostic: can the word stand alone as the only verb in the sentence and still carry action? Yes → main verb. No → auxiliary.
Habitual aspect
Used to vs would: both describe past habits, but used to implies the habit has stopped and works for states (I used to live there). Would describes repeated actions within a known time frame and needs context (Every summer, we would swim). Mixing them up subtly shifts meaning.
The habitual aspect = present simple (current habits), used to (past habits, ended), would (past repeated actions in context).
Diagnostic: is it a past state? → only used to. A past repeated action with a time frame? → either works. Does it imply the habit ended? → used to is clearer.
B1 | Intermediate
B1 vs B2: B1 handles standard everyday communication and simple opinions. B2 handles abstract topics, sustained arguments, and nuanced register. If you can chat about your life but struggle to debate an issue or write a formal essay, you're B1.
B1 is the intermediate CEFR level: independent handling of familiar topics, second conditional, basic passive, reported speech, and linking words for cause and contrast.
Diagnostic: can you read a newspaper article on a familiar topic and summarise the argument? Comfortably → B2. Struggle with abstractions → still B1.
Hard
Hard vs Medium: Medium tests one rule with realistic distractors. Hard tests interacting rules, edge cases, or context-dependent answers where multiple options seem correct until you think deeply. If you're scoring 80%+ on Medium, try Hard to find your real gaps.
The Hard tag filters for B2+ challenges with layered difficulty: rule interactions, subtle distractors, and contexts that demand genuine grammatical reasoning.
Diagnostic: if Hard questions feel impossible, drop to Medium and master the individual rules first. Hard assumes you already know each rule — it tests whether you can apply them together.