USED TO VS WOULD

used to, would and simple past

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USED TO

We use used to talk about past habits and states. We used to go on vacation to California every year when I was a kid. (past habit) They used to have a tiny apartment downtown. (past state)

We often use used to to describe past actions and states that aren't true anymore. I used to live in Germany. ( I don't live there anymore)

W don't normally use used to for repeated actions that lasted a short period of time. We use the simple past instead. I walked to work every day last week.

We often use adverbs of frequency and other time phases with used to. We always used to go to the beach in the summer when I was a child. We used to have breakfast there every week.

To talk about habits in the present, we use the simple present with usually. We usually go for a walk in the park every day. NOT: I used to walk to work every day last week.

WOULD

We use would + base form to talk about repeated past actions. I spoken English would often becomes 'd. I'd spend every day in the summer outside when I was a child.

PAST

I visited my family in Puerto Vallarta every summer. I would visit my family in Puerto Vallarta every summer. ( I don't visit them anymore)

PRESENT

We only use would to talk about repeated actions in the past. We don't use would to talk about states. We use to own a nice house in the countryside. NOT: We'd own a house in the countryside.

We sometimes use frequency adverbs with would. They come after would. I'd always do my homework at the last minute when I was in school.

When we talk about the past, we often start with used to and then continue with would. When I first moved to Mexico City, I used to go out a lot. I'd visit museums and go to concerts.

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