Used to and would
Past habits
Learn to talk about old customs, habits and states that are no longer true. Learn the differences between "used to" and "would" when describing repeated actions from your past.
USED TO
Meaning:I used to do something, but not anymore.
Can be used for:
-
actions (e.g. I used to ride a bike),
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states (e.g. I used to live in London, I used to like milk).
🟢 What does it look like in a sentence?
I used to eat meat.→ I used to eat meat (but I don't eat it anymore).
WOULD
Meaning:something happened often in the past (e.g. always, every day, every week...).
We only use for activities– NOT to the states!
🟡 What does it look like in a sentence?
When I was a child, I would play outside every day.
→ When I was a child, I played outside every day
DIFFERENCE between USED TO i WOULD
| USED TO | WOULD | |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Actions | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| ❌ States | ✅ Yes (e.g. know, like) | ❌ NO (not allowed!) |
| 🔁 Repetition | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 💡 What does it mean? | Something used to be there, not anymore | I have done something often in the past |
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