Past Habits: "used to" and "would"
used to / would
Structures used to describe past habits, states, or repeated actions that no longer occur in the present.
The structures used to and would are used in English to describe habits, routines, or repeated actions in the past that do not happen now. However, they are not completely interchangeable. While used to can describe both past states (e.g., feelings, situations, locations) and past actions, would can only describe repeated past actions or habits, never states.
To form sentences with used to, use used to + infinitive for statements, did not use to + infinitive for negations, and did you use to + infinitive for questions (note the spelling drop of the "-d" in negatives and questions). To use would, simply place would (or the contraction 'd) before the infinitive of the main action verb. For example, I used to live in London is correct, but I would live in London is incorrect because living is a state.
A common mistake is using would with stative verbs like be, have, love, or know (e.g., saying I would have a dog instead of I used to have a dog). Another error is confusing used to (past habit) with be used to or get used to (being accustomed to something), which require a gerund ending in -ing.
Examples
We used to live in a small village near the sea.
We used to live in a small village near the sea.
Every summer, my grandfather would take us fishing.
Every summer, my grandfather would take us fishing.
She didn't use to like vegetables when she was a child.
She didn't use to like vegetables when she was a child.
Did you use to play the piano when you were younger?
Did you use to play the piano when you were younger?
I would read for hours every night before going to sleep.
I would read for hours every night before going to sleep.
Related terms
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