used to vs would

used to and would

Index

1. Structure of 'used to'

4. Let's practise!

2. Structure of 'would'

5. Let's practise!

3. Uses of 'used to' and 'would'

Structure of 'used to'

wear jeans.

used to

AFFIRMATIVE I / You / He / She / It / We / You / They

didn't use to

wear jeans.

NEGATIVE I / You / He / She / It / We / You / They

questions with 'used to'

USE TO wear jeans?

YES/NO QUESTIONS DID

I / You / He / She / It / We / You / They

USE TO wear?

DID

WH- QUESTIONS WHAT JEANS

I / You / He / She / It / We / You / They

wear jeans?

SUBJECT QUESTIONS WHO

USED TO

Short answers for yes/no questions

did.

I / You / He / She / It / We / You / They

Yes,

didn't.

No,

I / You / He / She / It / We / You / They

Structure of 'would'

would

wear jeans.

AFFIRMATIVE I / You / He / She / It / We / You / They

wear jeans.

would not / wouldn't

NEGATIVE I / You / He / She / It / We / You / They

*We don't often use 'would' in questions or negative sentences when talking about past habits and actions.

USES

We can use USED TO and WOULD to talk about actions and habits in the past that are different today.

We can use USED TO, but NOT WOULD to talk about states and feelings in the past that are different today. We will use STATIVE verbs like 'have', 'want', 'be', 'care'. 'live'...)

We don't use USED TO or WOULD to talk about a past action that happened once or to talk about how many times something happened.

STATIVE VERBS

LET'S PRACTISE!

They used to go swimming on Sundays but now they go on Tuesdays.

When I was a baby, my parents would take me for a walk every afternoon.

CORRECT: She used to have long hair but now it's very short.

WRONG: She would have long hair but now it's very short.

CORRECT: Last year, I WENT to France.

WRONG: Last year, I USED TO go to France.

WRONG: Last year, I WOULD go to France.