Common Sentence Patterns

Common Sentence Patterns

in English

Index

1. Are you used to...?

8. I have a habit of

2. Did you use to...?

9.

3. Do you feel like...?

10

4. I bet...

11.

5. How come...?

12.

6. What does____mean?

13.

7. Do you have good taste?

14.

Are you used to...?

Are you used to speaking to native English speakers?

Be used to If you are used to something, you have done it often or experienced it; it's not strange, new, or difficult for you. Pattern: Be used to + noun phrase or a verb (-ing form) Example: I'm used to getting up early in the morning. I do it every day and I don't mind doing it.

II. DIALOGUE: A: How long have you been living in China? B: About three years now. A: Are you used to eating the food here? B: Yeah, I love it. A: What about chopsticks? Are you used to using them? B: It took me a while to get used to them, but now they're a piece of cake.

Are you used to...?

I. EXAMPLES: Are you used to using chopsticks? Are you used to riding a bike? Are you used to staying up late?

A Piece Of Cake -something that is very easy Medical school is not a piece of cake. Learning English is not a piece of cake. The English test was a piece of cake. My homework was a piece of cake tonight.

Do you think it's a piece of cake moving to a new city? Why, or why not?

Get used to If you get used to something, you become accustomed to it, or familiar with it; it's no longer unusual or strange. Get used to is the process of becoming used to something. Structure: Get used to + something / someone Get used to + verb (-ing form) Example: After a while he didn't mind the noise in the office; he got used to it. Are you getting used to speaking English?

Let's learn Be Used to and Get Used to with a Timeline

Do you like wearing a mask in public?

March 2020

July 2020

January 2021

I can't get used to wearing a mask.

I'll never get used to wearing a mask.

I'm not used to wearing a mask.

I'm getting used to wearing a mask.

I'm used to wearing a mask.

Truthfully, I'll never get used to wearing a mask because it's never going to be something I enjoy doing. However, I have no choice but to get used to it because it's the right thing to do for myself, for my family, and for the rest of the world. Sometimes there are things in life that we just have to get used to whether we like it or not.

Did you use to...?

eat, love, pray

Did you use to...?

II. DIALOGUE: A: Did you use to have any really bad habits? B: I used to bite my nails when I was younger, but now I don’t. A: What made you stop? B: One day I bit my nail too deeply and my finger started bleeding. So I learned my lesson and didn’t bite my nails again.

I. EXAMPLES: Did you use to live in Tokyo? Did you use to get up early? You used to smoke heavily, didn’t you?

used to

The sentence structure for “used to” will always go like this: subject + used to + base verb The base form of a verb is its shortest form, with no -s ending. Look for that structure in this example: I used to eat pancakes for breakfast, but now I enjoy something lighter, like yogurt and fruit.

Choose “used to” to say that something existed or happened repeatedly in the past but does not exist or happen now. For example, I said, “I used to eat pancakes.” That means I ate them repeatedly in the past but do not anymore.

Try to practice Used to when answering these questions:

When did you get your first smartphone? Do they remember it well? What do you use your smartphone for? Is your life easier because of your smartphone? Why? Are there any drawbacks to virtually everybody in the world having a smartphone? Examples?

Think about the time before people had smartphones. Were their lives any different? Did they use to spend or organize their time differently?

They didn’t use to send their friends so many pictures every day. (now they do) They used to make a lot of to-do lists on small pieces of paper. (now they use an app on their mobile phones) They used to spend more time in front of the computer. (now they google everything on their phones)

Talk about the picture.

Talk about the picture.

Talk about the picture.

More Practice

Something to help you remember...

Do you feel like...?

Write a subtitle here

Do you feel like...?

I. EXAMPLES: Do you feel like going for a walk on the beach? Do you feel like going shopping at the mall? Do you feel like eating some ice cream or having cake or both? Do you feel like having some coffee? Do you feel like getting a bite to eat?

II. DIALOGUE: A: I’m so bored. B: Do you feel like watching a movie? A: No, I feel like going dancing. B: Where do you want to go? A: How about Sam’s Disco? B: I don’t feel like going there. It’s always too crowded. A: We’ll try the disco down the block. It’s called Rick’s Disco. B: OK. Let's give it a try.

What do you feel like doing now? Waddaya feel like doin?

What do you do when you don't feel like doing anything?

MORE

I bet...

Quick Quiz You can say "I bet" or "I'll bet" after someone tells you a. how you felt b. how they felt c. how to gamble

I bet...

II. DIALOGUES: A: Where’s my wallet? B: You left it on your desk. Remember? A: I know but it’s not there anymore. B: I bet Sally took it. A: What makes you think so? B: I saw her hanging around your desk when you weren’t there.

I. EXAMPLES: I bet we’re lost. I bet he is home now. I bet he will win the prize.

Meaning You can say this to let someone know you understand the feeling or experience they've just described. For example "Winning a gold medal was such an amazing experience." "I bet. It must've been incredible." "I was so relieved when he said it wasn't cancer." "I'll bet. You must have been really worried." Note: Can also be used sarcastically if you don't believe someone, as in, "If I win the lottery, I'll give it all to the poor." "I bet you will."

How come...?

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II. DIALOGUE: A: Are you going to your sister’s wedding? B: I decided not to go. A: How come you’re not going? B: Because I’m afraid that if I go I’ll catch the bouquet of flowers and then I’ll have to get married. A: Don’t be silly. Just make sure you don’t catch it. B: Hey, that’s a good idea. I never thought of that.

How come...?

I. EXAMPLES: You forgot to bring your homework again. How come? How come your little sister is so angry? How come we were not invited to the party?

What does___mean?

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If you hear a word that you don’t understand, it’s a great idea to ask a native speaker for the definition. For example: Person A: “Did you watch the documentary I recommended?” Person B: “Yes, I did, but I didn’t understand a word they kept saying. What does ‘bioluminescent’ mean?” Person A: “Oh, ‘bioluminescent’ is a word used to describe animals that can make light on their own, like fireflies.”

Do you have good taste?

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What's the meaning of “You have good taste.”?No, this phrase doesn't have anything to do with tasting food. When somebody says, "You have good taste" it means that they like something about you. This phrase could be used in many different contexts. For example, if you are listening to music with a friend, they might say, ⁠ "You have good taste in music." This means that they think the music you like is also very good. You have good taste is simply a way to show that you also like what the other person enjoys. You could respond to this phrase in many ways, for example with, ⁠ "Thanks, I appreciate that", or ⁠ "That's so nice of you to say ."