Unit 7 'used to' & 'would'

'Used to' & 'Would'

used to + infintive

​When it should be used

When we express past habits, regularly repeated actions in the past and past states that we no longer do.

• Sara used to travel a lot. Now she hardly ever leaves her neighbourhood. (past habit)

• When I was younger, I used to go to the dentist once every three months. (regularly repeated action)

• We used to have a dog. Now we have a cat (state)

Different than be/get used to + ing --> different meaning

would + infinitive

We use in the same way as 'used to'; but we can't use it with stative verbs. Can only use with action verbs.

• Stative Verb - describes a state and not an action

• Example - Verbs used to express thoughts and opinions (agree, believe, doubt, guess, imagine, recognise, remember, suspect, think, understand, etc.)

• Remember that you can use used to without establishing the time period, but not would.

  Bob used to drink a lot. (we don't know when)

  Bob would drink a lot before he got married. (Bob would drink a lot doesn't mean anything without the time reference.)

Multiple Choice

Before she started exercising, my mom _______ suffer from chronis tiredness.

• used to

• would

• both

Multiple Choice

When I was a kid, _______ play football every day.

• used to

• would

• both