Would and Used To: Past Habits
Learn how to talk about repeated actions and habits in the past like a native.
- check_circleI can talk about past habits using 'used to' and 'would'.
- check_circleI can distinguish between action verbs and state verbs when talking about the past.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
Leo: I was looking at some old photos yesterday. I can’t believe how much things have changed!
Mia: Oh, really? Do you miss those days?
Leo: Sometimes. We used to live in that big house by the lake. It was so peaceful.
Mia: I remember that place! Your family would invite us over for barbecues every summer. We would play in the garden until it got dark.
Leo: Yeah! And my dad would always burn the sausages. He used to think he was a great chef, but he really wasn’t.
Mia: Haha, true! I vividly remember those weekends. We used to have so much fun without phones or the internet.
Leo: Exactly. We would spend hours just talking and playing board games. It feels like a completely different era.
Mia: Do you think you’d ever move back there?
Leo: I don’t know. The town used to be very quiet, but now it’s totally different. The old park is a shopping mall now. It’s a real shame.
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
When talking about things we did regularly in the past but don’t do anymore, we often use used to and would. But there is a very important difference between them!
Using “Used To”
We can use used to for both past states (feelings, situations) and past actions (habits, routines).
- I used to live in Paris. (State)
- She used to play tennis every weekend. (Action)
Using “Would”
We use would for past repeated actions, but NOT for past states. It often gives a feeling of nostalgia when we talk about the past.
- Every summer, we would go to the beach. (Action - Correct!)
- My grandfather would tell us stories by the fire. (Action - Correct!)
Common Mistake
You cannot use would with state verbs like live, be, have, know, like, love. You must use used to.
I would live in London when I was a kid.(Incorrect)- I used to live in London when I was a kid. (Correct)
She would have long hair.(Incorrect)- She used to have long hair. (Correct)
When we tell a story about the past, we often establish the time or situation using used to or the past simple, and then describe the regular actions using would.
Let’s look at some casual everyday actions. When we describe a routine, both forms are correct:
- I used to walk to school.
- I would walk to school.
- Used to + infinitive: for past habits AND past states (live, be, have).
- Would + infinitive: ONLY for past repeated actions (play, go, eat).
- NEVER use would for past states (e.g.,
I would like-> I used to like). - Both forms talk about things that are finished and don’t happen now.
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
Now make the language yours in a real task. Use the prompt below — the editor keeps a simple word count, and nothing is saved or graded.
Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?