Class 8 English Unit 8: Grammar II: Used to + Verb and Writing II: Narrative Essay Writing

 

Grammar II: Used to + Verb

Used to: talks about past habits, states, or situations that are no longer true in the present.

A.   Read the given passage and underline the verb forms that refer to habitual past actions. One example is given.

When I was 10 years old, I used to stay with my uncle. At my uncle's house, I used to start my talks early in the morning. I used to go to the tap with my aunt to face water. After returning from the tap, I used to do my homework. I was free to study but whenever I had free time, I used to work on the farm, too. Despite my daily chores at home, I used to walk hard to be in the first position in my studies. We used to create a lot of resources for ourselves. Therefore, we did not use to go on any excursions. All the teachers used to engage us in different practice activities. All those activities helped me a lot to become successful.

 

Quiz Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLbusHgR5fA

 

B.    Rewrite the given sentences using used to. Use negation where necessary.

a.      She lived in Italy when she was five.

She used to live in Italy when she was five.

b.     We grow a lot of crops.

We used to grow a lot of crops.

c.      Did you spend a lot of money?

Did you use to spend much money?

d.     There were a lot of trees in the jungle.

There used to be a lot of trees in the jungle.

e.      William and Fiona went to school together.

William and Fiona used to go to school together.

f.       The Smiths did not work much.

The Smiths did not use to work much.

g.     What did you do in the evenings?

What did you use to do in the evenings?

h.     Suhana did not help her parents?

Suhana did not use it to help her parents.

i.       People wear helpful in the past.

Quiz Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CBe_wERCug 

Writing II: Narrative Essay Writing

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5sAhNbvFgc  

You might have attended a ceremony, e.g. birthday, picnic, etc. Write a short narrative essay about it. Include the following details about the event.

a.      What was the event?

b.     When did you attend it?

c.      Where did it happen?  

d.     What happened in the ceremony?

e.      How did you feel?

A Birthday Party to Remember

On 3 Ashoj 2075 BS, I hosted what was meant to be a joyous birthday party at my residence. The evening started on a high note, with guests arriving and exchanging warm greetings. The house was filled with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses as everyone enjoyed the festive atmosphere. However, as the night progressed, one of the guests, who had clearly had too much to drink, became increasingly disruptive. His behavior intensified quickly, leading to a chaotic scene of fighting and shouting as he started breaking furniture and other items in the house.

The once joyous celebration turned into a nightmare as other guests tried to intervene, resulting in more commotion. The noise drew the attention of the neighbors, who called the police. Several guests were arrested, and the party came to an unexpected end. Surveying the damage and the aftermath, I felt a profound sense of helplessness and disappointment. What was supposed to be a memorable and happy occasion had turned into an event marked by destruction and conflict.

Reflecting on that night, I realized the importance of setting boundaries and managing such events more carefully. The experience left a lasting impact on me, teaching me a lot about human behavior and the unpredictable nature of gatherings. As a result, I decided never to arrange such a party again. The memory of that chaotic birthday party remains carved in my mind, serving as a reminder of the need for caution and moderation in celebrating life's milestones.

Project work

There must be some elderly people in your community. Interview five of them and ask them about their past lives. Make a list of the things they used to/did not use to do at their young age. Share your findings in the class. Ask the students to do the project work.

Extra bit: idioms

An idiom is a widely used saying or expression containing a figurative meaning that differs from the phrase's literal meaning. Look at some of the common idioms and their meanings.

Idioms	Meanings
A piece of cake	Something easily achievable
Add fuel to the fire	To make the situation worse
Call it a day	Time to stop working
See eye to eye	To agree with someone
Burn the midnight oil	To work late in the night
On cloud nine	Very happy
Cost an arm and a leg	Something is very expensive
Out of the blue	With no warning
Rain cats and dogs	Rain heavily
Teacher's pet	A teacher's favorite student
When pigs fly	Something is impossible
Once in a blue moon	Very rare

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