B1+Modals and related verbs

Would and used to for past habits

Use would and used to for repeated past actions, but use used to rather than would for past states and situations.

Overview

What this grammar does

Use would and used to for repeated past actions, but use used to rather than would for past states and situations.

Form and rules

How it works

Used to can describe both repeated past actions and past states: We used to visit; I used to own a car.

Would can describe repeated past actions when the past time frame is already clear.

Would is generally not used for past states such as know, believe, own, live or be in this habit meaning.

Narratives often introduce the past context first, then use would for repeated actions.

Would for past habit is different from conditional would and from polite/request uses.

A closer look

Meaning and use

Narratives often introduce the past context first, then use would for repeated actions.

Would for past habit is different from conditional would and from polite/request uses.

Examples

See the pattern in complete sentences

Every summer, we would stay with my grandparents.

We used to stay there for weeks.

I used to have a bicycle.

On Sundays, my father would cook for everyone.

There used to be a cinema here.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

When we were children, we were would play outside until dark.

When we were children, we would play outside until dark.

A repeated past action in an established past context can use would.

I am used to believe that adults knew everything.

I used to believe that adults knew everything.

Believe is a state verb, so used to is appropriate for the former state.

Ready to practise?

The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.

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