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Used to vs. Would
Practice choosing between 'would + infinitive' and 'used to + infinitive' for talking about past habits and states.
Key Differences:
| Used to + infinitive | Would + infinitive |
|---|---|
| ✓ Past habits (repeated actions) | ✓ Past habits (repeated actions) |
| ✓ Past states (situations, feelings) | ✗ Past states (NOT for situations, feelings) |
| ✓ With stative verbs (be, have, like, know) | ✗ With stative verbs (except in specific contexts) |
| ✓ Can start a story about the past | ✗ Not used to start a story about the past |
| No time reference needed | Often needs established past time frame |
Simple Rule: If you can use 'would', you can also use 'used to'. But if it's about a past state (not an action), you MUST use 'used to'.
Activity 1: Choose the Correct Form
Decide whether 'would' or 'used to' is appropriate for each sentence.
1
Easy
When I was a child, I ________ (play) in the park every day after school.
2
Easy
My grandfather ________ (be) a teacher before he retired.
3
Medium
I ________ (have) long hair when I was in university.
Activity 2: Complete with Correct Form
Complete the sentences with 'would' or 'used to' + the verb in brackets.
4
Medium
When we were teenagers, we ________ (go) to the beach every summer.
Remember: 'would' for past habits/actions, 'used to' for states or habits
5
Medium
I ________ (not/like) coffee, but now I drink it every day.
This is about a past state (not liking something)
6
Hard
Every morning, my father ________ (take) us to school before going to work.
This describes a repeated past action with a specific time pattern
Activity 3: Identify the Correct Usage
Some sentences are incorrect. Identify which ones use 'would' or 'used to' correctly.
7
Hard
Which sentence is CORRECT?
8
Hard
Which sentence is INCORRECT?
9
Medium
Complete this sentence correctly:
When I was younger, I ________ (not/eat) vegetables at all.
This could be about a past habit OR state
Activity 4: Mixed Practice
Choose the best option to complete each sentence.
10
Hard
________ smoke, but I quit five years ago.
11
Medium
When we were on holiday, we ________ swim in the sea every morning.
12
Hard
Write a sentence about a past habit using 'would':
Example: Every summer, we would go camping in the mountains.
Key Rules: Used to vs. Would
Use both 'would' and 'used to' for repeated past actions/habits.
Use only 'used to' for past states, situations, or feelings (with stative verbs like be, have, like, know, believe).
'Would' is not used to start a story about the past - you need to establish the time frame first.
'Would' often implies more nostalgia or storytelling than 'used to'.
With negative sentences, 'used to' is more common than 'would'.
Answers & Explanations
Correct: Both are possible
Explanation: "Play" is an action verb describing a repeated past habit. Both 'would play' and 'used to play' are grammatically correct here.
Correct: used to be
Explanation: "Be" is a stative verb describing a past state (being a teacher). We cannot use 'would' with stative verbs to describe past states. Only 'used to' is correct here.
Correct: used to have
Explanation: "Have" here means "possess" (long hair), which is a stative meaning. For possession, we use 'used to', not 'would'.
Correct: would go / used to go
Explanation: Both are correct since "go" is an action verb describing a repeated past action. 'Would go' sounds slightly more narrative.
Correct: didn't use to like
Explanation: "Like" is a stative verb (describing a state of preference). We cannot use 'would' with stative verbs. Also, we rarely use 'would' in negative sentences about past habits.
Correct: would take / used to take
Explanation: "Take" is an action verb describing a repeated past action with a clear pattern ("every morning"). Both forms are acceptable, though 'would take' emphasizes the habitual nature.
Correct: B - I used to live in Paris when I was young.
Explanation: "Live" here means "reside in," which is a stative meaning. We cannot use 'would' to describe past residence (a state). Only 'used to' is correct.
Correct: B - She would be very shy as a child.
Explanation: This sentence is incorrect because "be" is a stative verb describing a past state (shyness). We should say "She used to be very shy as a child." Sentences A and C are both correct.
Correct: didn't use to eat / wouldn't eat
Explanation: Both are technically possible since "eat" is an action verb. However, 'didn't use to eat' is more common in negative sentences. 'Wouldn't eat' suggests refusal rather than habit.
Correct: B - I used to
Explanation: When the verb is omitted but implied, we use 'used to', not 'would'. We say "I used to smoke" not "I would smoke" when the verb isn't repeated.
Correct: C - Both are possible
Explanation: "Swim" is an action verb, and the time frame is established ("when we were on holiday"). Both 'would swim' and 'used to swim' are grammatically correct.
Correct: Any sentence using 'would' + base verb for a repeated past action is acceptable.
Example: "Every Saturday, my grandfather would tell us stories about his youth." Remember: 'would' is for actions, not states, and needs context.
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