Repeated actions- Used to/ Would / Simple past

Repeated actions: Used to/ Would / Simple past

By Guadalupe F

Used to​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

• It is used to refer to past habits or to actions that were recurrent.

• En español tiene equivalente a: Solía

• Structure:

• +) Subject + Used to + Verb (infinitive)

• -) Subject + did not/ didn't + use to + Verb

• ?) Did + subject + use to + verb...?

EXAMPLES​

1-. She used to work in a bank, but now she works in a bar.

2-. He didn’t use to listen to classical music, but now he loves it.

3-. Did you use to go to California every summer?​

Multiple Choice

I ____ smoke when I was in my 20s.

• usually

• use to

• used to

• am used to

Multiple Choice

He ____ be a vegetarian when he was a kid

• used to

• would

• use to

Fill in the Blank

______ you __________________ go on holidays to the beach?

Fill in the Blank

I ______________________ like garlic in my food, but I love it now.

Would​

We can use Would to talk about repeated past actions that don't happen any more.​

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Would for past habits is slightly more formal than used to It is often used in stories. We don't normally use the negative or question form of would for past habits. Note that we can't usually use would to talk about past states. ​

Structure: subject + would + infinitive verb.​

1.- Every Saturday I would go on a long bike ride.

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2.- My dad would read me amazing stories every night at bedtime.​

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3.- When we were young, our mother would cook delicious meals every day. ​

EXAMPLES​

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Multiple Choice

In my first year at university, I ___ for an hour every morning before breakfast.

• Would run

• Have run

• used to run

Fill in the Blank

In the weekend, we _____ (play) football every evening.

Fill in the Blank

My father ______(read) us a bedtime story every night until we fell asleep.

​Past simple

We can always use the past simple as an alternative to used to or would to talk about past states or habits.

The main difference is that the past simple doesn't emphasise the repeated or continuous nature of the action or situation. Also, the past simple doesn't make it so clear that the thing is no longer true.​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Examples​

1.- I had a dog when I was younger​

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2.- We went to the same beach every summer.

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3.- ​I worked part time in high school.

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Multiple Choice

Then I ___ the university boxing team and I really started to train hard.

• joined

• used to join

• would join

Fill in the Blank

When I started my training, I ____ (change) my diet completely.

Fill in the Blank

But then I ___ (break) my arm and that was the end of my boxing career!