Habits in the Past

Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples:

- I watched this movie when I was a child.

- He wrote the word.

- He didn't pay the bill.

- Did you talk to him?

- She worked at the movie theater after school.

- They never went to school, they always skipped class.

simple Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true. As in a above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

Examples: