Long-term prisoners

In tonight’s edition of Reflections we are going to look at the problems of long-term prisoners. We took our cameras into several prisons, and our first interview is with a man we shall call “Harry”, although that is not his real name. He spoke to Chloe West about his career in crime.

Chloe: Harry, you’re serving a five-year sentence for robbery with violence.

Harry: That is right.

Chloe: Perhaps you could begin by telling us about your early life.

Harry: Yeah. Well, I grew up in South London. I was on my own a lot; see, my mother used to work down the fish market, and my dad – well, he ran off when I was just a nipper.

Chloe: Did you have any friends?

Harry: Oh, yeah. All kids from our street used to meet up at the coffee bar. There was one at the end of the road. We didn’t have much money, so we used to hang round there all day. We never used to go to the cinema, or dancing, or anything like that. We couldn’t afford it.

Chloe: What did you use to do there?

Harry: Oh, we just sat around listening to the juke box. Nothing special.

Chloe: When did you start getting into trouble?

Harry: I suppose I was fourteen, something like that. My friends used to go shoplifting at Woolies … Woolworth, and one day we were caught. I ended up in Borstal.

Chloe: You mean, they sent you to Borstal for shoplifting?

Harry: Well, yeah. After the fourth time … and for beating-up old ladies.

Chloe: You used to beat-up old ladies?

Harry: Well, only when I was trying to rob them.

Chloe: You beat them up and then robbed them?

Harry: Yeah. I used to do that.

Task 1. Look through the text and pick out sentences with “used to”. Now you have to continue them speaking about the present.

For example: Harry used to burgle but now he doesn’t burgle anymore.

Task 2. Make two sentences with “used to” for each of the following lines.

For example: They didn’t have much money so they used to hang round there all day.

Or

They used to hang round there because they didn’t have much money.

1. not much money / not go dancing

2. not much time / not study

3. not many friends / not go to parties

4. not much interest in politics / not read newspapers

5. not enough money / not go to the pubs

6. not enough time / not go to night school

7. not enough experience / not get the job

Task 3. Write sentences about a man who changed his life-style using “used to” / “didn’t use to” or “never used to”. Tom stopped doing some things and started doing other things:

Tom stopped: Tom started:

- studying hard; - smoking;

- going to bed early; - going out every evening;

- running 3 miles every morning; - spending a lot of money;

- dating his girlfriend; - carrying a gun;

- visiting his parents every weekend; - drinking whiskey;

- eating healthy food; - taking drugs;

- working as a sales manager; - robbing banks.

Task 4. Now you have to ask questions. Mr Ford is an old man now. Ask what he used to do when he was younger.

For example: I know Mr Ford doesn’t smoke now but did he use to smoke?

1. I know he doesn’t play the piano now but _______________?

2. I know he isn’t very rich now but _______________?

3. I know he doesn’t go out very often these days but _______________?

4. I know he doesn’t dance these days but _______________?

5. I know he hasn’t got many friends now but _______________?

6. I know he plays neither tennis nor golf but _______________?

7. I know he can’t drive now but _______________?

Task 5. Study the following:

We don’t need to use a time expression with “used to”: I used to go to jazz clubs every week. In this sentence, however, we can also use the Past Simple with a time expression: I went to jazz clubs when I was at college. We cannot use “used to” when something happened only once: I went to a rock concert last night (NOT “ used to go”).

Now complete these sentences with the Past Simple or “used to”. In some sentences both forms are possible.

1. Yesterday morning I (have) __________ toast for breakfast.

2. When I was young I (like) __________ toast for breakfast.

3. We (live) __________ at Apple Tree Farm when I was a little girl.

4. He (live) __________ in Australia in the 80s.

5. Things (be) __________ different from the way they are now.

6. In those days we (not have) __________ electricity.

7. Susan (have) __________ a green dress on at the party last Sunday.

8. Mike (not want) __________ to go without saying goodbye.

9. I (dream) __________ of being a pilot when I was a child.

10. He (go) __________ home after the bell rang and the lesson was over.

Task 6. Read the following sentences and organize them into 3 groups according to the typical activities of the three professions described:

I used to give orders.

I used to have a secretary.

I used to work in Westminster.

I used to wear a white shirt.

I used to play for England.

I used to drive a jeep.

I used to shake hands.

I used to make speeches.

I used to live in Washington.

I used to carry a gun.

I used to practice every day.

I used to wear a uniform.

I used to know all the famous politicians.

I often used to run fast.

I often used to wear shorts.

I used to play football.

I used to be the captain of my team.

I often used to kiss babies.

I sometimes used to ride a horse.

I used to answer a lot of letters.

I used to march on the parade ground.

I used to be a Member of Parliament.

I used to be a professional football player.

I used to be an army officer.

Task 7. What about you? Think back to your childhood, ask and answer in pairs.

1. Where did your parents use to work?

2. Did your grandfather / grandmother use to work?

3. What did you use to like doing?

4. What did you use to hate / dislike doing?

5. Where did you use to live?

6. Did you use to enjoy going to school?

7. What subjects did you use to study at school then?

8. Which ones did you use to like / dislike doing?

9. Did you use to study hard?

10. What hobbies did you use to have?

Task 8. Translate the sentences into English, pay attention to “used to” and the Past Simple.

1. Когда-то Фред был полицейским и носил форму.

2. Мы, бывало, часто ездили на экскурсии, когда были студентами.

3. Мне очень понравилась экскурсия в Совет Федерации в прошлом семестре.

4. Раньше дети больше читали, а сейчас, в основном, играют в компьютерные игры.

5. – Он раньше грабил магазины, не так ли? – Да, но после второго срока в тюрьме решил «завязать».

6. В детстве я всегда мечтал посетить Тауэр в Лондоне, и только через много лет моя мечта осуществилась.

7. Раньше ей не нравилось учиться, но в этом семестре она стала лучшей на своем курсе.

8. Гарри начал воровать еще в школе. Он обычно крал продукты, парфюм и диски из крупных универмагов.

9. Когда-то мой дедушка был судьей, а сейчас он пишет учебники по правовым вопросам.

10. Они никогда не имели обыкновения проводить отпуск дома.

PART 4