Tenses · Intermediate (B1)
Used to and would (past habits)
Talk about past habits and states that are no longer true: I used to live in Kyiv.
The rules
Used to + base verb = a past habit or state that isn’t true now: I used to smoke. We used to live in a village. Negative/question: didn’t use to, Did you use to…?
Would is also used for repeated past actions (not states), often in storytelling: Every summer we would go to the lake. Not: I would have long hair (state → used to).
Don’t confuse with be/get used to + -ing = be/become accustomed: I’m used to getting up early. I’m getting used to the cold.
Examples
- I used to hate vegetables, but now I love them.
- Did you use to play any sport?
- My grandfather would tell us stories every night.
- She isn’t used to driving on the left.
Common mistakes
✗ I use to live in Rome.
✓ I used to live in Rome.
Positive form is used to.
✗ I’m used to get up early.
✓ I’m used to getting up early.
be used to + -ing.
Practice
She ___ have long hair.
Quiz
1.We ___ go camping every summer.
2.Complete the sentence.
3.“Would” can describe past states like “have” and “live”.
4.Put the words in the right order.